Finnan, Morrison back in Kerr squad

Steve Finnan and Clinton Morrison are back in Brian Kerr’s Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly against Australia at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday, August 19.

Finnan, who moved from Fulham to Liverpool last month, missed the last two Euro 2004 qualifying victories over Albania and Georgia because of injury and has not been in an Irish squad since he played against Norway in a friendly last April.

Now fully recovered from a knee complaint, Finnan is included among eight defenders named by Kerr today.

Birmingham City’s Clinton Morrison returns from a shoulder injury for the first time since the friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park last February.

Also back is Newcastle United’s Andy O’Brien who has been an absentee following surgery on a broken nose.

Damien Duff is also back.

Missing from the squad this time is Bohemians’ striker Glen Crowe, Leeds' Stephen McPhail and Rotheram's Alan Lee.

IRELAND: Shay Given, Nick Colgan, Joe Murphy, John O’Shea, Stephen Carr, Ken Cunningham, Gary Breen, Andy O’Brien, Ian Harte, Richard Dunne, Steve Finnan, Lee Carsley, Colin Healy, Matt Holland, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Kilbane, Steven Reid, Alan Quinn, Damien Duff, Gary Doherty, Robbie Keane, Clinton Morrison, David Connolly.