Kerr holds out hope on trio

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr has named a 24-man squad for the opening World Cup qualifiers early next month – with hopes surrounding three key players.

Strikers Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison, and midfielder Matt Holland, have all been included, with Kerr keeping his fingers crossed the trio will have recovered in time for the September double-header.

Ireland first take on Cyprus at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, September 4, before flying to Basle to face Switzerland the following Wednesday in Group 4 of a qualifying campaign which will also see them up against France, Israel and the Faroe Islands.

Spurs forward Keane has yet to figure for Jacques Santini’s side this season due to an ankle injury, although he is understood to be making rapid progress.

Keane has travelled with the rest of the Tottenham squad to the midlands for tomorrow’s Premiership clash against West Brom at The Hawthorns, although he will undergo a late fitness test before any decision is made on his availability.

“I was aware that Robbie was making good progress after talking to (Spurs coach) Chris Hughton and also talking to Robbie, so hopefully he gets some games in the next week and will be ready for us,” said Kerr.

Charlton midfielder Holland, who like Keane also missed last week’s friendly draw with Bulgaria, remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury he sustained in the opening match of the season, a 4-1 defeat at Bolton.

Kerr added: “We’re hopeful he can make a comeback soon. He’s on the road to recovery and is hoping to start running again in the next couple of days.”

Morrison, meanwhile, sustained a knee injury against Bulgaria which ruled him out of Birmingham’s 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea on Saturday, and he is also touch and go.

“We thought he was okay and I was surprised when he wasn’t in the Birmingham squad on Saturday,” stated Kerr.

“We’ve just got to hope he recovers quickly from the injury to join up with us next week.”

Kerr is delighted to welcome back Rory Delap to the fold after the Southampton midfielder missed the matches against Romania, Nigeria, Jamaica and Holland at the end of last season with a knee injury.

Delap played the second half of Saints’ season-opening 2-0 defeat at Villa, before the full 90 minutes in a 3-2 triumph over Blackburn on Saturday.

“Rory is fit and well and gives us some added strength and experience for these games,” insisted Kerr.

“He’s very adaptable, which will help us also because he can slot into a number of positions.

“He’s been unlucky with injuries, but he’s had a good pre-season and has started the season very well.”

Squad: Given (Newcastle), Colgan (Barnsley), Kenny (Sheff Utd), Finnan (Liverpool), Cunningham (Birmingham), O’Brien (Newcastle), Maybury (Hearts), O’Shea (Man Utd), Carr (Newcastle), Doherty (Norwich), Breen (Sunderland), Miller (Man Utd), Quinn (Sheff Utd), Keane (Man Utd), Holland (Charlton), Kavanagh (Cardiff), Reid (Notts Forest), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea), Lee (Cardiff), Morrison (Birmingham), Connolly (Leicester), Keane (Tottenham), Delap (Southampton).