Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni had named his squad for the upcoming friendly international against Greece in Dublin later this month.
The Boys In Green take on the Euro 2012 quarter finalists on the 14th Novemeber
Robbie Keane has been left out of the squad, as has striker Shane Long, who is suffering from a hamstring strain. Norwich striker Wes Hoolahan is included, as is Robbie Brady and Ciaran Clark.
Derry duo Shane Duffy and James McClean are also named in the 26 man provisional squad.
Ireland squad
Keiren Westwood - Sunderland AFC
David Forde - Millwall FC
Darren Randolph - Motherwell FC
Shane Duffy - Everton
Seamus Coleman - Everton
Ciaran Clark - Aston Villa
John O’Shea - Sunderland AFC
Darren O’Dea - Toronto FC
Stephen Ward - Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Stephen Kelly - Fulham FC
Paul McShane - Hull City FC
Damien Delaney - Crystal Palace
Wes Hoolahan - Norwich City
James McClean - Sunderland
James McCarthy - Wigan Athletic FC
Seamus Coleman - Everton FC
Glenn Whelan - Stoke City
Aiden McGeady - Spartak Moscow FC
Andy Keogh - Millwall FC
James McClean - Sunderland FC
Conor Clifford - Chelsea
Keith Fahey - Birmingham City
David Meyler - Sunderland
Kevin Doyle - Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Simon Cox - Nottingham Forest
Jon Walters- Stoke City FC
Robbie Brady - Manchester United
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will continue with his new premiership tour this weekend when he take's in the game between Stoke and Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium.
This follows on from his visit to Norwich last week to eye-up Wes Hoolahan & Anthony Pilkington in their impressive defeat of Arsenal at Carrow Road.
The Stoke v Sunderland game could feature up to seven potential members of the squad for next month's friendly with Greece at the Aviva Stadium.
Potters boss Tony Pulis will likely start with Marc Wilson and Jonathan Walters, who both impressed in the comfortable win over the Faroes, while Glenn Whelan will be involved if he shakes off his hamstring problem.
John O'Shea and McClean are regular starters for the Black Cats, while midfielder David Meyler, who has broken into Trapattoni's plans in recent months, might be brought off the bench at some stage.
Ireland's first-choice goalkeeper Keiren Westwood may need Simon Mignolet to suffer some kind of misfortune if he is to get the chance to impress O'Neill and nail-down a a regular Sunderland starting birth.
It will be interesting when the Ireland squad is announced for the Greece friendly next wednesday, if Trapattoni's sudden ability to watch players on a regular club basis will have any bearing on his squad selection.
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Giovanni Trapattoni has named his starting eleven for tomorrow night's friendly international against Oman at Craven Cottage.
Kevin Doyle will captain Ireland for only the second time in his career in what is an experimental side, with a number of fringe & new players being given the opportunity to impress the Irish boss.
Manchester United's Robbie Brady & Sunderland's David Meyler will both make their international debuts. However there is no place for Sunderland's James McClean in the starting team.
David Forde - Millwall
Seamus Coleman - Everton
Stephen Kelly - Fulham
Paul McShane - Hull City
Marc Wilson - Stoke City
David Meyler - Sunderland
James McCarthy - Wigan Athletic
Robbie Brady - Manchester United
Andy Keogh - Millwall
Kevin Doyle - Wolves
Shane Long - West Brom
Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan has spoken of his pride at becoming Stoke City's most-capped international player.
Dublin born Whelan won his 37th cap against the Czech Republic on 29 February and that surpassed the 36 appearances made by England goalkeeper Gordon Banks during his five-year spell with the Potters.
"To beat Gordon Banks, who's not just a Stoke legend but also an England legend, it will be great to look back on," Whelan told BBC Radio Stoke.
Banks won a total of 73 caps for England, with the other 37 coming before his move from Leicester City to Stoke in 1967.
28 year old Whelan made his international debut for Ireland in June 2008, five months after joining the Potters from Sheffield Wednesday. The Irish central midfielder started his career with Manchester City after joining from Irish feeder club Cherry Orchard in 2001.
Whelan has been a mainstay in Giovanni Trapattoni's central midfield and is a likely starter for 'The Boys In Green' when they travel to Euro 2012 in June.
Three days after playing in a 1-1 draw for the Irish against the Czechs, Whelan helped Stoke to a 1-0 win against Norwich , their second consecutive Premier League victory and a result that lifted Tony Pulis's side back into the top half of the Premiership table.
"Coming off four straight defeats, we knew it was going to be really tough but they were two games that we knew we could win," said Whelan.
"It's given us massive confidence going into the next game [at Chelsea on Saturday].
"Clean sheets are important, every team needs them, and we've got two of them in the last two games so we need to keep that up."
"We go into every game hoping to get a win and Chelsea is no different. We know it will be tough with the players that they've got but they're not unbeatable. We can go there with confidence, like what we've shown in the last two games."
The FAI has agreed a new two-year contract with Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli.
The new deal was announced in a statement today. It will begin in July 2012 and continue for the duration of the World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign. Fitness trainer Fausto Rossi will also continue in his role.
Trapattoni has secured his new contract on the back of Ireland's successful qualification for Euro 2012.
Commenting via an official FAI statement, the 72-year-old said: "I am very happy to continue my job with the FAI. I have always said that Marco and I believe very strongly in the work that we are doing to grow and develop the Irish team.
"It is a huge honour and a privilege to represent the Irish team and we look forward to continuing this important task."
FAI chief executive John Delaney said: "On behalf of the FAI Board of management, we are very happy to agree a contract extension with Giovanni Trapattoni and his team of Marco Tardelli and Fausto Rossi.
"They have done fantastic work with the squad, bringing us to qualification for a major tournament for the first time in ten years, increasing our world ranking to 21st and introducing many new players for the future.
"Giovanni's experience, professionalism and achievement in qualifying for EURO 2012 has impressed everyone including the players and the FAI Board."
Commenting on O'Brien's financial support, Delaney added: "The FAI Board of Management are particularly grateful to Denis O'Brien for his continuing contribution which gives the Irish team and supporters the benefit of Giovanni's services into the next World Cup campaign."
O'Brien also commented on the deal. He said: "Giovanni Trapattoni has done a tremendous job in bringing Ireland to qualification for the Euros for the first time since 1988.
"His professionalism, experience and close working relationship with the players has developed a squad which has grown in self-belief and determination.
"The squad is showing plenty of potential for further improvement during the coming campaign. I am delighted to continue my partnership with the FAI, Giovanni Trapattoni and the Irish squad."
FAI President Paddy McCaul said: "I am delighted that we have been able to retain the services of Giovanni Trapattoni. He brings a wealth of experience and a great working relationship with the FAI and the players.
"The fact that we have gone into the last two campaigns as third seeds and have finished second in both, as well as being seeded for the play-offs in EURO campaign, speaks volumes about his ability to deliver.
"I would like to congratulate Giovanni, Marco and Fausto on this renewed appointment"
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 27 man squad for the Crucial Euro qualifiers against Andorra and Armenia next month.
Jon Walters and Seamus Coleman both return to the squad and Wigan's James McCarthy is also named in the Irish midfield
Shay Given Aston Villa
Kieran Westwood Sunderland AFC
David Forde Millwall AFC
John O'Shea Sunderland AFC
Kevin Foley Wolves
Stephen Kelly Fulham
Stephen Ward Wolves
Richard Dunne Aston Villa
Kevin Kilbane Derby
Sean St. Ledger Leicester
Darren O'Dea Leeds
Damien Delaney Ipswich Town
Glen Whelan Stoke
James McCarthy Wigan
Seamus Coleman Everton
Keith Andrews Ipswich
Keith Fahey Birmingham
Andy Keogh Leeds
Damien Duff Fulham
Aiden McGeady Spartak Moscow
Stephen Hunt Wolves
Liam Lawrence Portsmouth
Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
Kevin Doyle Wolves
Shane Long West Brom
Simon Cox West Brom
Jon Walters Stoke
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will make four changes to his side for tomorrow's Carling Nations Cup decider against Scotland.
The Italian today named his team for the final match of the four nations tournament in the Aviva Stadium but said he may review his line-up after another training session.
Damien Delaney, Kevin Foley, Seamus Coleman and Keith Treacy are the players to make way following Tuesday's 5-0 thrashing of Northern Ireland.
Defender Darren O'Dea has won his battle for fitness after an ankle injury while Birmingham's Keith Fahey, who joined up with the squad after the Northern Ireland game, slots into midfield.
Wolves winger Stephen Hunt comes off the bench to play on the left while Portsmouth's Liam Lawrence replaces Coleman on the right.
Record goalscorer Robbie Keane, who took his international tally to 48 with a double strike four days ago, again captains the side and will partner Simon Cox.
West Brom striker Cox and Wolves utility man Stephen Ward, who will play at left-back, are rewarded for their goalscoring debuts against Northern Ireland with second caps.
Both Ireland and Scotland have won their opening two matches of the competition and the winner at the Aviva Stadium will claim the trophy.
Trapattoni's priority is next week's Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia but hopes to finish the competition well in front of a home crowd likely to be around 25,000.
'Obviously we will play for a good result but we do have one or two injured players.
'I am confident about our performance and the result.
'It is a game like a derby. Many of the Scotland players, like ours, play in the Championship or the Premier League.
'I hope and I think it can be a beautiful game.'
Ireland team to play Scotland in Carling Nations Cup at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, 29 May:
Given, McShane, O'Dea, Kelly, Ward, Lawrence, Andrews, Fahey, Hunt, Keane, Cox.
Reading manager Brian McDermott has hailed the Irish striker partnership of Noel Hunt and Shane Long after they secured a 2-1 Championship win over Millwall at the Madejski Stadium last night.
Waterford born Hunt broke the deadlock three minutes in and even though Millwall equalised through Neil Harris, Long claimed the winner in the 55th-minute.
That took the Tipperary born striker to 16 for the season while fellow Ireland international Hunt now has six from 13 hampionship starts.
Long may also find himself with a starting birth up front in Ireland’s European Championship qualifier with Macedonia in Dublin next month, as Robbie Keane may struggle to regain fitness in time.
The Royals pair came in for praise from the manager after ensuring they claimed their first league win in seven, moving them back to within seven points of the play-offs.
"His (Long's) partnership with Noel Hunt works well," said McDermott.
"When I was chief scout I watched Noel play a lot in Scotland and he's one that defenders hate to play against.
"He didn't stop working. The last thing you want is someone to come to the Madejski and outwork us.
McDermott also revealed that Long is playing through the pain barrier as Reading try to remain in play-off contention.
"He has problems with his knee and stomach," said the Reading boss.
"I told him that if he needed a rest he would have to come and see me because I wasn't going to see him. He said he wouldn't be coming to see me."
Record Irish goalscorer Robbie Keane is a doubt for Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia on March 26th, as he recovers from a calf injury.
Keane’s participation in the Ireland squad is ‘touch and go’ as it is estimated that the crucial qualifier may come a week before Keane gets the all clear to resume playing.
Dublin born Keane has scored 45 goals in 104 international appearances for Ireland and was expected to play a major role in the Aviva stadium clash and the push for Euro 2012 qualification.
The Worrying news about Keane will be another concern for Ireland boos Giovanni Trapattoni who will be without No.1 goalkeeper Shay Given for the Dublin game after a shoulder injury ruled him out.
Ireland international Séamus Coleman is hoping to celebrate his new improved contract with a win against West Ham this weekend.
The young Donegal born midfielder says he is keen to keep impressing after signing a four-and-a-half year deal.
Coleman extended his stay on Merseyside until at least 2015; the latest in a series good news stories since he arrived from Sligo Rovers in January 2009.
But the 22-year-old Killybegs right winger has been sensational this season, and he believes the new contract is the reward for his hard work.
"I'm over the moon to sign the contract, my aim was to keep impressing after every contract and this new one proves that I've been doing well," Coleman told evertontv.
"I just want to keep going now. When I came over first it was a two-year contract and I treated it as a trial," he added.
"I got a new one whilst I was at Blackpool, and to get another one so quickly was a surprise because that's three in a short space of time."
Coleman has endeared himself to the Blues fans with his all-action displays since breaking into the first team.
And he says he will continue to put in the maximum amount of effort even when he's not at his marauding best on the Everton right flank.
"When I go out on the pitch I get my head down and I have a go," said Coleman.
"Even if it's not going well for me on the ball, I'll keep running around and giving it 100 per cent and the fans appreciate that."
Coleman scored against Saturday's opponents West Ham when the sides met at Upton Park in December.
Everton were far from their best that day in East London, and Coleman knows the Blues must perform well to record a second successive home win despite the Hammers being stuck at the base of the Premiership table.
"The Premier League this season is so tight and everyone is beating everyone apart from United at the top," continued Coleman.
"You can't take anything for granted and West Ham aren't going so well and they are going to be fighting for it but we need the points at Goodison."
Stoke City defender Marc Wilson has been drafted into Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland squad ahead of their crucial European qualifying double-header against Russia and Slovakia.
Wilson from Aghagallon in County Antrim recently made a quick return to the Premiership after moving from cash strapped Portsmouth to Stoke City in a three million pounds deal in early September.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis speaking at the time of Wilson’s move to The Potters said "He showed great maturity last season in what was a very difficult time for Portsmouth, so he will give us more competition for midfield places."
Wilson received his first international call up from Trapattoni in March this year when he was included in the squad for the glamour friendly against Brazil at the Emirates stadium in London. Speaking at the time of his first senior call-up Wilson said “It was always my dream to play for the Republic. I had grown up supporting them, Words could not describe my feeling when I heard about the call-up.”
Wilson has previously represented Ireland at u18, u19 and u21 levels.
Ireland international winger Aiden McGeady was last night celebrating his first goal for Spartak Moscow.
His 77th minute equaliser saved his team from a home defeat to Amkar Perm, with the final score 2-2. The 24-year-old's goal came when he instinctively responded to a cross and scored from the right side of the Perm goal.
His club is now in sixth place, but fans were unhappy that Spartak failed to beat one of the weakest teams in the Russian premiership. Despite this, Spartak remain unbeaten in the four matches since the £9.5 million winger has played since joining from Celtic.
Immediately before the game his coach Valery Karpin had predicted the Irish international would score. "So far he did what we first of all expected from him - set up our forwards for goals. But I am sure it is very soon that we will see him finding the back of the net," he said before kick off.
Ireland under 21 international Robbie Brady is aiming to cast off his injury concerns and consistently display his top form, after catching the eye in his first Man United Reserves start of the season.
The Dublin born former St. Kevin's Boys winger bagged a brace in United's 5-1 Lancashire Senior Cup win at Bury on Monday evening. He remained modest about his goals, however, and is merely looking for a consistent run in the reserve team.
"I had a tough time last season, nearly seven eight months out with injury," Brady told MUTV. "I've been training nearly every day this season, I'm feeling fitter for it and hopefully I can get fitter as the weeks go on.
"The first goal, I didn't hit cleanly but the 'keeper pushed it into the net. The second one just dropped to me. I was looking to open up my body and put it into the corner but the defender was too close so I just toe-poked it in."
"We were comfortable in the first half but we didn't push it in terms of goals. In the second half we upped it a bit more and the goals came one after the other," he said.
"The lads love to play flowing football in training and tonight we've shown we can do it in matches too. Hopefully we'll show more through the season. We're all close mates off the pitch as well so that helps us on the pitch. Sometimes things don't go as well as we'd like, but it was a good team performance tonight."
Brady has been a part of Ireland's international youth set-up for the last four years, progressing throuth the u15,u17 & u19 teams and this month make his u21 debut in the European u21 qualifier against Switzerland at the Cornaredo Stadium, Lugano on 3 September.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has hailed the maturity of new signing Marc Wilson and feels the Irish international will add competition to his midfield options at Stoke.
Pulis told the club's website: "I wanted to freshen the squad up with some young players, and Marc certainly fits that criteria.
"He showed great maturity last season in what was a very difficult time for Portsmouth, so he will give us more competition for midfield places."
County Antrim born Wilson is also delighted to be back in the Premier League after suffering relegation with cash-strapped Pompey last season.
He added on the club's website: "This is a great club which is on the up and so this is a positive move for me.
"I had a taste of playing in the Premier League last season; it's the best league in the world and I wanted to get back there as soon as possible."
Wilson will also be hoping that his move back to the Premiership will increase his chances of featuring in Giovanni Trapattoni's plans for the European championship qualifiers over the next twelve months.
Hibernian have agreed a fee with Celtic for Ireland striker Anthony Stokes, according to Sky Sports News.
Neil Lennon admitted he was keen to bring the former Sunderland man to Celtic Park earlier this week and could be getting his man by Monday.
Dublin born Stokes, who scored 23 goals last season, turned out during Hib's 1-0 defeat to St Mirren on Sunday and his manager John Hughes believed the unfolding transfer affected the stikers' performance.
"I felt he was poor, but I can understand it with everything on his mind," said Hughes.
"Sometimes you play on emotions and if it was to be his last game I thought he might go out with a bang, but it didn't materialise."
Ireland assistant manager, Marco Tardelli, today announced a 25 man squad who will take on Armenia away and Andorra at home in the opening Group B European Championship qualifiers.
Marco Tardelli said, “We go into this double header of qualifiers well prepared and confident having held a successful training camp in May and played a number of competitive and challenging friendly matches over the summer. Playing Armenia in Yerevan will be a tough test for the team but when we return to play our first competitive home game four days later, we hope to go to Aviva stadium having made a positive start to the campaign. ”Ireland squad to face Armenia and Andorra:
Goalkeepers
Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, Joe Murphy.
Defenders
John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Greg Cunningham, Kevin Foley, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane , Darren O'Dea, Kevin Kilbane.
Midfielders
Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Paul Green, Liam Lawrence, Aiden McGeady, Andy Keogh, Damien Duff, Keith Fahey, Keith Treacy.
Forwards
Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni had named his squad for the upcoming friendly international against Greece in Dublin later this month.
