Staunton leaves Lee behind

Everton midfielder Lee Carsley has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for next week’s friendly in Denmark.

Manager Steve Staunton insists the 33-year-old is still part of his plans but does not feel it necessary to include him for the fixture in Aarhus.

The match will serve as a warm-up for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Staunton said: “When Lee came back into the squad last year we agreed that if I was not going to use him I wouldn’t bring him around the world to sit on the bench.

“However, he is still in my plans for the games in September.”

Newcastle pair Shay Given and Damien Duff are also missing through injury but Magpies team-mate Stephen Carr returns to the squad after an absence of almost a year.

Charlton midfielder Andy Reid and Wolves striker Stephen Elliot are back from injury after missing the March qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia.

Recent caps Colin Doyle, Darren Potter, Andy Keogh and Daryl Murphy get another chance, while Kevin Kilbane is poised to make his 81st appearance, moving him up to fifth on the country’s all-time list.

Republic of Ireland squad to face Denmark in Aarhus on August 22:

Colgan (Barnsley, caps 9), Doyle (Birmingham, 1), Henderson (Preston, 5), Carr (Newcastle, 43), Dunne (Man City, 35), Finnan (Liverpool, 46), Kelly (Birmingham, 5), McShane (Sunderland, 5), O’Shea (Man Utd, 38), Douglas (Leeds, 7), Hunt (Reading, 5), Ireland (Man City, 5), Kilbane (Wigan, 80), McGeady (Celtic, 10), O’Brien (Hibernian, 5), Potter (Wolves, 2), Reid (Charlton, 22), Doyle (Reading, 9), Elliot (Wolves, 9), Keane (Tottenham, 72), Keogh (Wolves, 1), Long (Reading, 4), Murphy (Sunderland, 2).

Steve Staunton talks to us about the Republic of Ireland squad for next week’s

friendly in Denmark.