Keogh and Gibson called up as Ireland face England test

ANDY KEOGH and Darron Gibson are included in the Republic of Ireland squad to face England in next month’s UEFA Under-21 Euro Qualifier.

The duo, were called up to the senior squad by manager Steve Staunton before his sacking last year.

There are no Irish-based players in the squad as eircom League of Ireland clubs are only just returning to pre-season training.

The Republic are bidding to avenge the 3-0 defeat suffered at Turner’s Cross on October 16.

Said Givens: “The 3-0 home defeat to England was unfair, in my opinion. We lost at home 2-0 to Portugal as well and Portugal were miles better than us. England weren’t miles better than us.

“I think we deserved something out of the England game over the 90 minutes. We actually played quite well. It is a good English side and it is a daunting place to go but I don’t think we’ll do too badly.”

The game will be played at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on Tuesday, February 5 (7.45pm).

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-21 (v England): D Randolph (Charlton Athletic), S Supple (Ipswich Town), E Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), R Keogh (Bristol City), J O’Cearuill (Barnet), D O’Dea (Celtic), S O’Halloran (Southampton), D Dennehy (Everton), S Quinn (Sheffield Utd), D Gibson (Wolves), O Garvan (Ipswich Town), J O’Brien (Celtic), JJ O’Toole (Watford), A Stokes (Sunderland), K Treacy (Blackburn Rovers), A Rooney (Chesterfield), A Keogh (Wolves), B Clarke (Ipswich Town).