King adds defender Delaney to Ireland squad

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney has been added to Noel King's provisional Republic of Ireland squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Kazakhstan later this month.

With both Richard Dunne and John O'Shea suspended for the Germany game on October 11th, interim manager King is light on central defensive options and Delaney's inclusion is gives him more flexibility in that regard.

Delaney plays centre back for newly-promoted Palace, who have lost five of their opening six games in the Premier League. He has started five of those matches, including their one win, over bottom side Sunderland, the only team below the Eagles.

The 32-year-old can also play left-back, which would open up the possibility of Stoke City's Marc Wilson covering in the middle in Cologne.

King's squad now stands at 26 players after the withdrawal of Hull City's Robbie Brady on Monday evening.

The Dubliner was due to undergo surgery on a groin injury on Tuesday and is facing around a month on the sidelines.

“The final 23-man squad will be finalised after Saturday’s (cross-channel) games in order to facilitate injuries etc,” an FAI statement read this evening.