Soccer: Mighty Quinn stands on threshold

Veteran Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has been given the perfect chance to set a new goalscoring record after being included in the Irish squad to meet Andorra next Wednesday.

Quinn, 34, is poised to win his 83rd international cap against the tiny Pyrenees nation in the Group Two World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road.

He currently shares the Irish record of 20 goals with former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Frank Stapleton.

A back injury has limited Quinn’s recent appearances for Ireland, but now it seems he will at last get the chance to break that elusive record.

"At the moment I am more concerned about our big derby game against Newcastle United on Saturday," said Quinn.

"Providing I have no problems in that match, it will be great to join up with the other Irish squad members in Dublin on Sunday."

Manager Mick McCarthy last week originally named a massive 30-man squad, but today reduced the travelling party to 22 players.

Charlton keeper Dean Kiely, Blackburn winger Damien Duff and Middlesbrough pair Keith O’Neill and Curtis Fleming are ruled out by injury.

After consultation with Leeds boss David O’Leary, McCarthy also agreed to the withdrawal of defender Gary Kelly because of an injury which ruled him out of last night’s Champions League action.

From the original squad there is no room for Coventry midfielder Barry Quinn, Bolton’s Gareth Farrelly or Stoke’s Graham Kavanagh.

But there is a welcome recall for Manchester City winger Mark Kennedy who had been left out of the squad after being arrested in Dublin after a late night incident prior to the Republic’s 2-2 draw with Holland in Amsterdam last September.

"Mark would have returned earlier once the court case had been completed," said McCarthy.

"It was only the fact of injuries that ruled him out of our recent games against Cyprus in Nicosia and Andorra in Barcelona. I’m happy that he is back in the panel."