Leeds United defender Gary Kelly has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad for their vital World Cup play-off games against Iran in Dublin on November 10th and Tehran five days later.
Kelly missed out on the final Group Two World Cup qualifier against Cyprus after being red-carded in the previous month's 1-0 victory over Holland at Lansdowne Road.
Manager Mick McCarthy was in Abu Dhabi today to watch Iran overcome the United Arab Emirates 3-0 in the second leg of their Asian zone World Cup qualifying play-off.
With a single goal lead from last week's 1-0 victory in Tehran, the Iranians booked their date against the Irish with goals from Ali Daei, Karim Bagheri and Mehrdad Minavand, to make it a 4-0 aggregate victory.
"After watching the first leg in Tehran last Thursday, I was not surprised by the result. But travelling to the Middle East for these two games was invaluable homework," said McCarthy.
Now, the Republic are likely to base themselves in Dubai prior to the second leg, flying into Iran 24 hours beforehand.
McCarthy has named Manchester United skipper Roy Keane in his squad, although there are still doubts about his availability because of a knee injury.
Definitely out is Blackburn's Damien Duff, who has a hamstring problem.
Kelly, who missed out on that 4-0 romp against Cyprus, is much back in the reckoning and Millwall's Steven Reid could be pushing for a place in the starting line-up because of worries about the injured Mark Kennedy (Wolves) and Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland).
"I'm sorry that I will be without Damien Duff but we have plenty of cover," said McCarthy.
SQUAD:Given (Newcastle), Kiely (Charlton), A Kelly (Blackburn), G Kelly (Leeds), Staunton (Aston Vila), Harte (Leeds), Dunne (Man City), Breen (Coventry), O'Brien (Newcastle), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Kinsella (Charlton), Roy Keane (Man Utd), Carsley (Coventry), McAteer (Sunderland), Holland (Ipswich), Kilbane (Sunderland), Finnan (Fulham), Kennedy (Wolves), Reid (Millwall), Delap (Southampton), Quinn (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Leeds), Connolly (Wimbledon), Morrison (Crystal Palace).