Roy Keane and Duff start for Ireland

Roy Keane made his long-awaited competitive return for the Republic of Ireland after an absence of almost three years tonight.

The Manchester United star replaced Cardiff skipper Graham Kavanagh at the heart of the midfield, one of two changes to the side that defeated Cyprus 3-0 on Saturday, for their second World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.

Manager Brian Kerr also brought in Liverpool’s Steve Finnan at left-back after John O’Shea returned to Manchester United on Sunday with a small tear to his lower thigh muscle.

The Swiss were without three key players through injury in Daniel Gygax, Christoph Spycher and Raphael Wicky, resulting in coach Kobi Kuhn handing a debut in midfield to Tranquillo Barnetta of Hannover 96.

World Cup Group 4 Qualifier latest:

Switzerland v Rep of Ireland 7.30pm

Switzerland: Zuberbuhler, Haas, Muller, Murat Yakin, Magnin, Vogel, Barnetta, Cabanas, Hakan Yakin, Vonlanthen, Rey.

Subs: Roth, Berner, Henchoz, Grichting, Lonfat, Huggel, Haberli.

Rep of Ireland: Given, Carr, O’Brien, Cunningham, Finnan, Andy Reid, Roy Keane, Kilbane, Duff, Robbie Keane, Morrison.

Subs: Breen, Maybury, Kavanagh, Quinn, Kenny, Doherty, Barrett.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Faroe Islands 0-2 France RES

Faroe Islands:

France: Giuly 37, Cisse 73

Faroe Islands: Mikkelsen, Thorsteinsson, Olsen, Johannesen, Jon Roi Jacobsen, Johan Byrial Hansen, Atli Danielsen, Rogvi Jacobsen, Borg, Jann Ingi Petersen, Benjaminsen.

Subs: Johnsson, Bech Jorgensen, John Petersen, Frederiksberg, Arnbjorn Danielsen, Flotum.

France: Coupet, Evra, Gallas, Giuly, Givet, Squillaci, Pedretti, Pires, Vieira, Henry, Saha.

Subs: Rothen, Landreau, Boumsong, Dhorasoo, Cisse, Luyindula.

Referee: Craig Thomson (Scotland)

Israel 0-0 Cyprus 6.50pm

Israel:

Cyprus:

Israel: Davidovitch, Saban, Benado, Ben Haim, Keisi, Badir, Tal, Nimni, Benayoun, Katan, Golan.

Subs: Shtrauber, Uzan, Balili, Afek, Shivhon, Holzman, Gazal.

Cyprus: Panagiotou, Kakoyiannis, Nikolaou, Makrides, Theodotou, Satsias, Okkas, Charalambides, Michalis Konstantinou, Okkarides, Elia. Subs: Augousti, Stavros Georgiou, Iacovou, Michael, Yiasoumi, Constanti, Lambrou.

Referee: Sergey Shmolik (Belarus)