Dunne left out of Ireland squad

A 27-man squad Republic of Ireland has been named for the upcoming friendlies against Latvia and Poland.

Under-21 boss Noel King, who took charge for the final two World Cup qualifiers last month, selected the party with new manager Martin O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane having only signed their contracts yesterday evening.

QPR defender Richard Dunne will not join up with the squad as he continues his recovery from the groin problem which sidelined him for the whole of last season.

However, Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot retains his place and Reading’s Alex Pearce and Brighton’s Stephen Ward are also included.

The Republic face the Latvians at the Aviva Stadium next Friday evening in the new management team’s first game, and then travel to Poznan to meet the Poles four days later.

O’Neill and Keane will hold their first training session with the players in Malahide on Monday.

Squad: David Forde (Millwall), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), Rob Elliot (Newcastle); Sean St Ledger (Leicester), Marc Wilson (Stoke), Seamus Coleman (Everton), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Reading), Stephen Kelly (Reading), Joey O’Brien (West Ham), James McCarthy (Wigan), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Stephen Ward (Brighton); Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Paul Green (Leeds), Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Anthony Pilkington (Norwich), James McClean (Wigan), Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn (both Hull), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City); Shane Long (West Brom), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Jon Walters (Stoke), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Anthony Stokes (Celtic).