Kerr brings Kavanagh back from wilderness

BRIAN KERR ended Graham Kavanagh's four years in the international wilderness in Dublin yesterday, naming him in the squad of 22 players he will take to Basel.

Cardiff's Kavanagh has been out in the cold since winning his third cap for Ireland in a friendly against Northern Ireland in May 1999. He was placed on stand-by for the Irish squad to play Cyprus and Andorra in World Cup qualifying games in March 2001, but didn't travel.

The starring role he played in Cardiff's promotion last season, and the fact that he has been their most impressive player as the club have started an early promotion surge for the Premiership this season convinced Kerr it was time Kavanagh re-joined the Irish squad.