Only one Eircom league player named on youth squad

IRISH youth team manager Gerry Smith has announced the squad of 20 Irish players who will travel to the United Arab Emirates next month for the Under 20 World Youth Championship finals.

New manager Smith picked the squad after consulting former youth-team boss and current senior Ireland manager Brian Kerr.

The squad includes just one Eircom League player, Eamonn Zayed of Bray Wanderers. Also in the squad is Sean Thornton, who has made a major impact on the Sunderland first team this season and Jonathon Daly who is a regular first teamer with Stockport County.