St Ledger fit to start for Ireland

Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger shook off his knee injury to line up against Cyprus in tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifier.

The Preston man suffered no reaction to his training session at the GSP Stadium last night to allow manager Giovanni Trapattoni to select the team he had hoped to.

St Ledger started alongside Richard Dunne in central defence with John O’Shea at right-back, while Stephen Hunt was preferred in midfield to Aiden McGeady.

Angelos Anatasiades, who was without suspended duo Michael Konstantinou and Konstantinos Makridis, named only three of the men who started the 1-0 defeat at Croke Park in October last year as his side fought desperately to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

IRELAND (v Cyprus): Given, Dunne, O’Shea, St. Ledger, Hunt, Kilbane, Whelan, Duff, Andrews, Doyle, Keane. Subs: Westwood, Kelly, Nolan, McGeady, Gibson, Keogh, Folan.