Glen has something to Crowe about

BOHEMIANS striker Glen Crowe has retained his place in Brian Kerr’s 23-man squad for the Republic of Ireland’s two Euro 2004 qualifiers against Albania and Georgia next month.

Crowe was a member of the squad of 22 players Kerr had in Dublin last week for a five-day training session as part of the build-up to the two crucial Euro ties at Lansdowne Road, though he was released to play for Bohemians in their eircom League game against Drogheda United at Dalymount Park last Friday night.

Back in the squad are goalkeeper Nick Colgan (Hibernian) and Glasgow Celtic’s Colin Healy, both of whom have now completed their playing season in Scotland. Also included are goalkeeper Joe Murphy (West Brom) and Steven Reid (Millwall), both of whom joined the training squad late last week having remained with their clubs for treatment earlier in the week. With the return of Nick Colgan, Port Vale goalkeeper Dean Delaney drops out.

Missing from the squad, however, are Steve Finnan (pelvic injury) and Andy O’Brien (broken nose). Both are still considered not fit enough to join the squad for the two Euro games.

Ireland meet Albania on Saturday, June 7, with a 3pm kick-off and then face Georgia the following Wednesday night, June 11, with a 7.30pm start.

The squad will assemble in the Nuremore Hotel in Monaghan on Saturday and will be based there until the following Wednesday when they will return to their Dublin base at the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links in Portmarnock. They will remain at this location until after the Georgia game on June 11.

Albania coach Hans-Peter Briegel has included Paris St. Germain youngster Lorik Cana in his 23-man squad for the clash with the Republic.

19-year-old Cana and experienced Regina striker Erjon Bogdani are the only two players included who were not in the squad for April's scoreless draw with Ireland in Tirana. It is Cana’s first ever call-up while Bogdani was recalled to the squad for last month’s 2-0 friendly defeat by Bulgaria after being left out of Briegel's first squad for the games against Russia and Ireland.

Republic of Ireland (squad): Given (Newcastle), Colgan (Hibs), Murphy (WBA), Carr (Spurs), Harte (Leeds), O’Shea (Man Utd), Dunne (Man City), Breen (West Ham), Cunningham (Birmingham), Carsley (Everton), Holland (Ipswich), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Quinn (Sheff Wed), Kilbane (Sunderland), McPhail (Leeds), Healy (Celtic), Reid (Millwall), Duff (Blackburn), Crowe (Bohs), Connolly (Wimbledon), Doherty (Spurs), Lee (Rotherham), Keane (Spurs).

Albania (squad): Strakosha (Kalfea), Beqaj (OFI Crete), Lika (Dinamo Tirana), Dabulla (SK Tirana), Beqiri (Vllaznia), Cipi (Ghent), Aliaj (SK Tirana), Fakaj (MSV Duisburg), Dede (SK Tirana), K Duro (Malatyasport), Hasi (Anderlecht), Lala (Hanover 96), Murati (Iraklis), Skela (Entracht), Bellaj (Panoios), Shkembi (HNJ Rijeka), Dragusha (Eintracht Trier), Cana (PSG), Tare (Brescia), Rraklli (Unterchaching), Bushaj (Trabzonspor), Myrtaj (Cesena), Bogdani (Regina).