Givens picks strong squad for vital Azeri clash

REPUBLIC of Ireland boss Don Givens has named a strong squad for the preliminary round of the UEFA U-21 European Championships against Azerbaijan next month.

Joey O’Brien, Stephen Ireland and Aiden McGeady are named in the squad. A win is vital to proceed to the Group Stages against Belgium and Greece in September.

Givens said, “It is vital that we win these two legs. I hope to put out my strongest players in Baku (May 11) and Kilkenny (May 18) to ensure that this will happen.”

IRELAND U21 SQUAD: D Quigley (UCD), C Doyle (Millwall), K Foley (Luton T), P McShane (Brighton), A Bruce (Birmingham C), M Painter (Birmingham C), J Hand (Huddersfield T), W Flood (Man City), G Dicker (UCD), M Timlin (Fulham), S Ireland (Man City), J O’Brien (Bolton W), D Potter (Southampton), G Whelan (Sheffield Wed), A McGeady (Celtic), A Keogh (Scunthorpe), S Ward (Bohemians), J Tabb (Brentford).