No recall for Ireland or Reid

[thebandit]

Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid have not been named in the 25-man Republic of Ireland squad to face Georgia in a 2010 World Cup qualifier next month.


Speculation had mounted that the 22-year-old Manchester City midfielder would end his self-imposed exile by declaring himself available for his country once again.

Ireland, who has been one of the only players to show any form at City this season, has not played for his country since September 2007.

Reid has been out of favour at Sunderland, which made his return unlikely.

The midfielder was dropped from the international squad following a disagreement with manager Giovanni Trapattoni earlier in the campaign.

However, there are returns for Espanyol full-back Steve Finnan and Birmingham City's Steven Kelly, who missed the last two games through injury.

'Today, Andy Reid or Ireland, please, it's finished. We speak with them. To clarify, it's finished,' Trapattoni told a news conference.


'We are aiming to win. I hope the players will come back with the same spirit full determination like they had in November. I hope they haven't forgotten the work done until now.


'This will be the first match of a very important year ahead in our challenge to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

'Georgia are strong opposition but we believe in ourselves as a team and I look forward to our fans help to give us a home advantage throughout the 90 minutes.'

Trapattoni's assistant Liam Brady added that the door remains open to the Manchester City player.

Brady said: 'We went to Manchester and we agreed with Stephen Ireland that he would be able to come back if he wanted to come back.'


The FAI also announced this morning that it will set up a 1,500 seat singing section for fans to lead home support in the Davin Stand.

Ireland defeated Georgia 2-1 in the German city of Mainz in September to launch their qualifying campaign in style.

The game was controversially switched from Tblisi because of the volatile political situation in the former Soviet republic at the time.


IRELAND squad to face Georgia on 11 February at Croke Park:

Goalkeepers

Shay Given
Dean Kiely
Keiren Westwood


Defenders


Alex Bruce
Damien Delaney
John O'Shea
Kevin Foley
Paul McShane
Richard Dunne
Stephen Kelly
Steve Finnan
Kevin Kilbane


Midfielders


Aiden McGeady
Damien Duff
Darron Gibson
Glenn Whelan
Keith Andrews
Liam Miller
Stephen Hunt
Andy Keogh


Forwards


Caleb Folan
Kevin Doyle
Robbie Keane
Shane Long
Noel Hunt

[longball]

have they declared themselves available thou?

[The Real Laoislad]

If that was what was agreed with Ireland then I don't see why he would have been picked for the squad so unless he makes the call himself he won't be picked which is fair enough IMHO

[Bud Wiser]

Ireland is from Cork like Keane and the Cork hurling team.  Is he a midfielder or a striker, cause we have enough strikers.