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.”