Loanee midfielder Keith Andrews has been named in the Republic of Ireland side for Tuesday’s final Euro 2012 qualifier against Armenia in Dublin (Sky Sports One/HD1, 6.30pm). Giovanni Trapattoni’s men need a draw against the side currently in third in their group to confirm their place in the play-offs, while a win could see them qualify automatically if Andorra create a shock in Russia.
Andrews will be winning his 24th full cap, while fellow Blue Damien Delaney will hope to make his sixth full international appearance from the bench.
Also in with a chance of adding to his 35 full caps and eight goals on Tuesday is striker Tamás Priskin. His Hungary side face Finland in Budapest needing to hammer the Finns and hoping that Holland will record a similar thrashing in Sweden in order to reach the play-offs.
Defender Danny Collins pulled out of the Wales squad with a minor groin injury last week, while Carlos Edwards withdrew from Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup qualifiers.
Elsewhere, Northern Ireland’s U19s, skippered by Josh Carson and with academy midfielder Cormac Burke also in the squad, take on Montenegro in the final game of their qualification mini-group in Belfast, also on Tuesday. A win, or perhaps even draw, will see them through to the elite stage of qualifying.
Republic of Ireland: Given (Aston Villa), O'Shea (Sunderland), St Ledger (Leicester City), Dunne (Aston Villa), Kelly (Fulham), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Andrews (Ipswich Town), Whelan (Stoke City), Duff (Fulham), Cox (West Bromwich Albion), Doyle (Wolves).
Photo: Action Images/Scott Heavey