Premiership places a must for players: Stan

Ireland manager Steve Staunton has sent a warning to his Coca-Cola Championship-based strikers that they will struggle to get into his squad until they get back into the Barclays Premiership.

Staunton named his squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia yesterday.

Wigan striker Caleb Folan earned his first Irish call after receiving his citizenship earlier in the week.

But there were no recalls for Sunderland’s David Connolly, Crystal Palace’s Clinton Morrison or Ipswich’s Alan Lee, who have all impressed at Championship level recently.

Lee has scored 13 league goals for Ipswich, Connolly has bagged 11 for the Black Cats and Morrison has nicked four goals in as many games for Palace.

Emerging talents including Wolves duo Andy Keogh and Stephen Ward had also been touted as possible call-ups but were overlooked. Keogh was in the squad for Ireland’s previous match against San Marino.

Sunderland’s Anthony Stokes is the only Championship striker Staunton has named for the March 24 fixture against the Welsh and the Slovak clash three days later.

Tottenham’s Robbie Keane, Reading duo Shane Long and Kevin Doyle and Folan are the other four strikers Staunton has selected.

Staunton said: “I’ve seen how well the likes of David Connolly and Clinton have done this season. I'm pleased they’re doing well.

“I would say Sunderland are probably the most-watched team myself and my scouting network has monitored since I came into the job.

“But what you’ve got to remember that we have four Premiership strikers in the squad now.”

After naming seven uncapped players in his squad for the win in San Marino last time out, Staunton has kept faith with a youth policy for the forthcoming double-header.

Folan and Celtic defender Darren O’Dea are the new names in the Irish squad while Manchester United teenager Darron Gibson is the only other uncapped squad member. Newly-capped Stephen Hunt, Long and Stokes are retained.

Staunton said: “When I came into the senior squad as a player I was a young lad joining an experienced bunch, but these lads are all coming through together as a group.

“The only way they can gain experience is by being involved in squads and gaining that experience. That was the whole purpose of this campaign.

“We’re still looking to do something in this group. If we can we’ll go to the bitter end but we’re looking for players to develop.”