McPhail and Lee recalled to Ireland squad

Stephen McPhail and Alan Lee have been recalled to the Ireland squad to face Russia in the upcoming Euro 2004 qualifier with …

Stephen McPhail and Alan Lee have been recalled to the Ireland squad to face Russia in the upcoming Euro 2004 qualifier with Robbie Keane, as expected, the only major absentee.

McPhail, who this week moved on loan from Leeds United to Nottingham Forest, has played seven times for the Republic of Ireland with his last cap coming against Greece in November 2002.

Lee Carsley and Steven Reid are both back in the squad following their withdrawal from the panel picked ahead of the 2-1 defeat of Australia in August.

Keane was the major casualty from that friendly win over the Socceroos and was ruled out of participation in the crunch tie with Russia, after undergoing medical examination on an ankle injury late last week.

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Jason McAteer also misses out through injury.

Having watched McPhail in action for Forest last night, Republic manager Brian Kerr said that he was pleased with the midfielder's play but hinted that he may only figure in the friendly against Turkey on September 10th.

"It's good that Stephen is getting first team football at Forest and he impressed me with his overall performance over the ninety minutes against Coventry," said Kerr.

However the manager added: "This is not the time for blooding new potential talent. If necessary, we may call up other players for the friendly with Turkey four days after the Russian game.

Lee, who has just two caps for the senior side, scored for his new side Cardiff City on Monday last. Kerr is hoping that the debut goal will boost the striker's confidence ahead of the Lansdowne Road showdown on Saturday, September 6th.

Full Squad

Nick Colgan (Hibernian)
Shay Given (Newcastle)
Joe Murphy (West Bromwich Albion)

Gary Breen (Sunderland)
Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ken Cunningham (Birmingham City)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Ian Harte (Leeds United)
Steve Finnan (Liverpool)
Andy O'Brien (Newcastle United)
John O'Shea (Manchester United)

Lee Carsley (Everton)
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
Damien Duff (Chelsea)
Colin Healy (Sunderland)
Matt Holland (Charlton Athletic)
Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland)
Mark Kinsella (Aston Villa)
Stephen McPhail (Nottingham Forest)

Alan Lee (Cardiff City)
Clinton Morrison (Birmingham City)
Gary Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur)
Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday)