SHAY GIVEN AND Seamus Coleman have been included on a provisional 40-man Republic of Ireland squad for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifying double header against Germany and Poland.
Martin O’Neill, the Ireland manager, will trim the squad ahead of their assembling in Dublin on October 4.
Coleman has been nursing a hamstring injury of late, but will be hoping to win his 30th international cap against Germany at Aviva Stadium on October 8, with Given (pictured above) on the verge of a 133rd Irish appearance.
Following the 1-0 win over Georgia earlier this month, the Boys in Green are aiming for a place in the qualification play-offs, but their final two Group D see them face the top two teams in the group.
After tackling the Germans – Joachim Löw’s team are the current World Champions – Ireland will face Poland at the Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on October 11.
Shane Duffy – who scored in Blackburn Rovers’ 2-2 draw against Queen’s Park Rangers last night – has been included in the provisional squad. Duffy’s father, Brian, hails from Letterkenny.
Donegal connections mean Irish eligibility for Ciaran Clark, James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady, all of whom will be vying for places in the first XI next month.
Goalkeepers: Shay Given, David Forde, Darren Randolph, Keiren Westwood, Rob Elliot
Defenders: Richard Keogh, Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, Cyrus Christie, John O’Shea, Alex Pearce, Ciaran Clark, Shane Duffy, Paul McShane, Stephen Ward, Greg Cunningham
Midfielders: Robbie Brady, James McCarthy, Darron Gibson, Jeff Hendrick, Harry Arter, Eunan O’Kane, Glenn Whelan, Paul Green, Aiden McGeady, James McClean, Alan Judge, Anthony Pilkington, Stephen Quinn, Wes Hoolahan, David Meyler
Forwards: Jonathan Walters, Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes, David McGoldrick, Adam Rooney, Simon Cox
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