Kerr pens in Keane again despite injury

Mark Gallagher

However, even if he regains fitness before the end of the month, the Man Utd captain will only play against Romania, as prior commitments will rule out his involvement in the Unity Cup and the trip to Holland next month.

Keane hasn't played since April 25 and concerns exist at Old Trafford that he might have to sit out the clash with Millwall in the Millennium Stadium. Kerr, whose squad of 31 includes four uncapped players, said he didn't expect all of the players to participate in the four end-of-season games.

"The fact Roy hasn't played in so long shows it was a genuine problem before the Poland game," Kerr said. "I hope he plays against Villa tomorrow and in the Cup Final. If he is fit enough, he will play in the Romania game but I don't expect him to be involved in the other matches."

Celtic prodigy Aidan McGeady has been named in the squad. Only a month past his 18th birthday, and yet to play for the Irish U-21s, McGeady has been a sensation since joining the first team at Parkhead.

"I think the time is right. We have four games coming up, and it is an opportunity to blood a number of players. I know he is very young, but he is a forward player and we are not overly blessed with them. We are always looking for players who can do something different in the final third of the pitch."

"It's a pleasant surprise that McGeady has broken into the Celtic team at such a young age. I remember watching him when he first came in at U-15 level with Vinny Butler and you knew then he had something different. He has made steady progress, but in the last month, he has broken into the Celtic first team, played against Rangers and scored a first team goal.

"He is the type of player that any international manager and team would want, a player that can do something different in and around the box."

McGeady, at Parkhead since he was ten, was caught in a tug-of-war between the Scottish and Irish football bodies. Glasgow-born McGeady, who has Donegal grandparents, would not be swayed.

"He has great characteristics," Kerr said. "He is very dedicated, always determined to improve. And he is very hard on himself and the demands he places on himself. There was no player more disappointed ... in Cork two years ago when we failed to qualify for the European U-17 championships."

The other uncapped players are Coventry City's Mick Doyle, Stoke's lively full-back Clive Clarke and QPR's Martin Rowlands.

The squad has a depleted look: along with Damien Duff, Richard Dunne, Kevin Kilbane, Graham Kavanagh, Ian Harte and Stephen Carr all face operations in the summer.

Rep of Ireland squad: Given (Newcastle), Colgan (Hibs), Kenny (Sheffield Utd), Maybury (Hearts), Finnan (Liverpool), Cunningham (Birmingham), O'Brien (Newcastle), Doherty (Spurs) Breen (Sunderland), Clarke (Stoke), Holland (Charlton), Douglas (Blackburn), O'Shea (Man Utd), Miller (Celtic), Roy Keane (Man Utd), A Reid (Notts Forest), Rowlands (QPR), Kennedy (Wolves), Doyle (Coventry City), S Reid (Blackburn), Quinn (Shef Wed), Delap (Soton), McPhail (Leeds), Kinsella (West Brom), McAteer (Sunderland), Barrett (Coventry), Robbie Keane (Spurs), McGeady (Celtic), Lee (Cardiff), Connolly (West Ham), Morrison (Birmingham).