No place for Hoolahan on Ireland squad
Wes Hoolahan has missed out on a recall to the Republic of Ireland squad despite helping Norwich earn promotion to the Premier League this week.
The midfielder was not among the 33 names on a provisional list announced by coach Giovanni Trapattoni today for the side’s three summer fixtures.
The Republic take on Northern Ireland and Scotland on May 24 and 29 in the Carling Nations Cup before travelling to Macedonia for a Euro 2012 qualifier on June 4.
Hoolahan could have justifiably hoped for a chance to add to his solitary cap, won in 2008, but lost out to more established midfield names. Striker Caleb Folan has been named despite a lacklustre start to life in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids.
Versatile Wolves man Stephen Ward has won the chance to earn his first appearance and is the only uncapped player in the squad.
Trapattoni said: “Following our 3-0 win over Wales in February, I am really looking forward to the remaining Carling Nations Cup fixtures against Northern Ireland and Scotland because this is a tournament which we want to win.
“More importantly, the remaining fixtures in the Carling Nations Cup will give us a good opportunity to spend some extra time together as a squad in preparation for the Euro 2012 qualifier versus Macedonia on June 4.”
Five of the 33 named in the provisional squad are subject to fitness – Sean St Ledger, Damien Duff, Darren O’Dea, Keith Andrews and Kevin Doyle.
Given (Man City),
Westwood (Coventry),
Forde (Millwall);
Dunne (Aston Villa),
O’Shea (Man Utd),
Foley (Wolves),
Delaney (Ipswich),
Clark (Aston Villa),
Coleman (Everton),
Kilbane (Huddersfield),
Kelly (Fulham),
McShane (Hull);
McCarthy (Wigan),
Whelan (Stoke),
Wilson (Stoke),
Gibson (Man Utd),
McGeady (Spartak Moscow),
Fahey (Birmingham),
Lawrence (Portsmouth),
Treacy (Preston),
Hunt (Wolves),
Ward (Wolves);
Keogh (Wolves),
Stokes (Celtic)
Folan (Colorado Rapids),
Walters (Stoke),
Keane (West Ham),
Long (Reading).
Provisional call-ups subject to fitness: St Ledger (Preston), Duff (Fulham), O’Dea (Ipswich), Andrews (Blackburn), Doyle (Wolves).
