Updated 2.00pm
IRELAND MANAGER MARTIN O’Neill has named a 36-man squad for the upcoming friendly against Oman and the opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia.
There are no new faces and no surprises in the provisional panel which will be trimmed before the players meet up in Dublin next Sunday, 31 August.
Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was the most likely candidate for a call-up but after speaking with O’Neill, the Birmingham-born starlet indicated that he does not wish to be considered for a senior cap at present.
Robbie Keane — who became the leading active international goalscorer following Miroslav Klose’s retirement — will remain as captain.
“I have had the opportunity to work with the players since last November, and we are well prepared as we embark upon the first of our qualifiers next month,” said O’Neill.
“Oman will provide a good test to start our trip before we travel to Tbilisi. We are focused on the task in hand, and look forward to the challenges ahead of us.”
O’Neill does have a number of borderline fitness concerns to weigh up in the coming days including Everton midfielder Darron Gibson.
“Obviously in terms of match fitness, he’d be a wee bit below. I think he thought he might have been involved in the squad there last week, particularly with the couple of injuries that Everton have picked up. He’s at least on the radar now and that’s good news for us all,” said the Derry native.
One familiar figure who won’t be present in Malahide is Richard Dunne who retired from national duty recently.
“That was his decision,” said the Ireland boss, “In my own personal view, I would never have written him off.
“People seem to have picked it up that I was talking rather negatively. I understand he wanted to play the league games last year. When you’re playing in the Championship, there’s no respite, it’s every single week, so he missed out on international matches. Fine, absolutely fine.
“He didn’t make himself available for the summer time to get himself some rest but honestly, I was disappointed that he wanted to retire because I still think he’s well and truly capable”
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: David Forde, Keiren Westwood, Darren Randolph, Rob Elliot.
Defenders: Richard Keogh, Marc Wilson, Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Alex Pearce, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Damien Delaney, Joey O’Brien, Shane Duffy, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Ward.
Midfielders: Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Andy Reid, Aiden McGeady, Anthony Pilkington, James McClean, Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Wes Hoolahan.
Strikers: Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Jon Walters, Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, Simon Cox, Connor Sammon.
