Giovanni Trapattoni has named Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and Robbie Keane in his squad for Ireland’s European Championship qualification play-offs against Estonia next month.
Newcastle United’s Leon Best must be bitterly disappointed as his hope for a recall have been dashed.
A key player in Newcastle’s unexpectedly flying to start to the season, the striker hasn't featured in an Irish squad since he was an unused substitute against Paraguay 17 months ago.
A few weeks ago, Trapattoni explained Best’s absence by suggesting that he needed to up his workrate.
Trapattoni’s main concern for now is the well-being of his strikers, with Kevin Doyle suspended for the first leg, Shane Long all but ruled out by his club West Brom, and Robbie Keane still on the road to recovery.
The Italian, who also selected Wigan midfielder James McCarthy and Stoke striker Jon Walters, said of the tie: “There is no room for complacency as we prepare for our two games next month.
He added on www.fai.ie: “We will remember that Estonia have as much right to be in the play-off as ourselves.
“They have had some very good results in their group beating Serbia and Slovenia. They also caused Italy a lot of problems.
“These games will be a huge challenge for us, and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.”
But while Roy Hodgson this week insisted that Long would definitely miss the play-offs with a knee injury, the FAI have not yet officially ruled him out.
Ireland (v Estonia): Given, Westwood, Forde, O'Shea, Kelly, Ward, Dunne, St. Ledger, O'Dea, McShane, Whelan, McCarthy, Coleman, Andrews, Fahey, Gibson, Keogh, Duff, McGeady, Hunt, Lawrence, Keane, Doyle, Long, Walters, Cox.
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