Steve Finnan misses tonight's international friendly with Chile at Lansdowne Road after failing a fitness test in Dublin this morning. Leeds United's Liam Miller steps off the substitutes bench to replace the Liverpool player who had been named in Steve Staunton's starting team yesterday.
Finnan had been struggling with a groin strain in recent days but overcame that problem yesterday. However, following a training session in Portugal the Liverpool star suffered a reaction to a knee injury.
The 30-year-old also missed Staunton's first game in charge, against Sweden earlier this year, because of a neck injury.
"Obviously we are disappointed," Staunton said today, "but Liam has had a great season so far and I have no doubt that he will relish this opportunity to start in tonight's game against Chile."
Miller played in last weekend's Coca-Cola Championship play-off-final but Leeds failed to win promotion to the Premiership, losing as they did 3-0 to Watford.
The Corkman, capped 11 times for the Republic, scored his first international goal against Sweden and will slot in on the right side of midfield.
Rep of Ireland: Given; Kelly, Breen, Dunne, Kilbane; Miller, Reid, O'Shea, Duff; Keane, Doyle.
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