Elliott in as Kerr rests Keane

SUNDERLAND’S Stephen Elliott has received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for next week’s friendly against Croatia at Lansdowne Road.

Celtic's Aiden McGeady and Manchester City's Jonathan Macken are recalled but Roy Keane and Clinton Morrison are not included in an expanded squad of 25. And City's rising star Willo Flood will also have to bide his time though there's still a chance he could get the nod before next Tuesday.

Manager Brian Kerr said it was his decision to rest Keane, while Birmingham City's Morrison is still battling back to full fitness after picking up an injury in the World Cup qualifier against France in Paris. Kerr said that even if Morrison returns for his club this weekend, it would be "too much too quickly" to ask him to play two games in three days. Morrison rang Kerr asking to be included in the squad but accepts the manager's decision. "I think it's better for him and fair to the club," added Kerr.

Although U21 international Elliott, carrying a knock, did not play in Sunderland's weekend game against Millwall, Kerr is confident that the in-form striker, who has scored eight times this season for the Black Cats, will be fit to join the squad.

"My understanding is that it's not a serious injury and that he'll be in their squad for this weekend (against Leicester)," said Kerr. "It's no secret that we've been short of front players. We've all had good hopes for Stephen since we first saw him at Belvedere. He's always been an honest, hard-working player with an eye for goal. Not very big or tall but good with his back to the play. And no matter what way he's been asked to play in matches he just gets on with it. He also works very hard in training. His attitude is good there was never a peep out of him when he was at Man City and he didn't get a go.

"Then he got a good break this season and he's going well, scoring goals. From Mick McCarthy's point of view, he has made a fantastic impact. You wouldn't expect a lad to go from no first-team games into the first team even if it's in a different division and be scoring regularly and be a first-choice player every week. It is a surprise."

For Willo Flood, the likelihood is that his call-up will come sooner rather than later. "He was certainly considered, " said Kerr. "I know him well from when he was playing at Cherry Orchard through to the Under-21s and I saw him against Norwich when he played very well. He's in my thoughts and not far away and if we lose attacking players he could well end up in this squad. But Willo knows that we're keeping a close eye on him he has a special attacking talent. He needs to get the physical strength and he needs time but we have great hope for him."

Of more established players who failed to make this squad, Kerr said that he had also considered Southampton's Rory Delap and has had Ian Harte watched in Spain.

On the subject of Fulham's Zat Knight, previously capped at U21 level for England, and other players whose dual eligibility could permit them, under a limited FIFA amnesty, to declare for Ireland before the end of this calendar year, Kerr was unequivocal.

"Nobody has contacted me about Zat Knight to say that he's eligible and wants to play and has made his mind up. It's not about, 'if I can't get my game for somebody else, will you give me a game?' It's not like that playing for Ireland.

"You have to be eligible and good enough and it's whether I consider they're good enough or not that matters. There's time for things to happen, if people are prepared to come on board same as any other players. But you'd like people to have a bit of enthusiasm about it that it's not a career choice. I'd like people to see it as something they would be proud to be associated with."