Soccer/Ireland friendly: Despite naming the sort of squad that could endure one of those disasters favoured by soap opera producers keen to clear out unwanted cast members and still leave him with options in most departments Brian Kerr expressed confidence yesterday that the brightest of his stars would travel for next Wednesday's friendly against Portugal in Lansdowne Road. Emmet Malone reports.

The Ireland manager named 27 players but dismissed suggestions that a couple of the busier men might skip the match to preserve their fitness for key club games over the weeks ahead.

"Portugal is a big match for everyone," he said, "and as far as I know everyone's anxious to be involved."

The friendly does come at a difficult time for players like Damien Duff and Roy Keane, both crucial to the fortunes of their respective clubs.

Chelsea visit Everton, Newcastle, Barcelona and Liverpool in the 18 days that follow the Dublin match while Manchester United face local rivals City and Everton away followed by home matches against Milan and Portsmouth in one day less.

Kerr expected the pair to be available to face the Euro 2004 finalists. "I've spoken to Roy and Damien over the past few days and both of them are very keen to come here," he said. "There's never been any problem with Damien getting released either from Blackburn or Chelsea and while Roy's position is slightly different because of the injuries that he's had in the past he knows this is top class opposition we're going to play and he's always interested in that."

Kerr has the likes of Clinton Morrison, Steve Carr, Andy O'Brien, Matt Holland and Tottenham new boy Andy Reid available again as well as Roy Keane who was rested for November's game. Also included are Joe Murphy, the West Brom goalkeeper on loan at Walsall, Stephen Elliott of Sunderland and Celtic's Aidan McGeady.

"The likes of Stephen Elliott has been doing well for his club and obviously you'd always like to have somebody come through as a real option for the important games that we have later this year but the reality is that there's no pressure on him," Kerr observed.

"The same goes for Aidan McGeady, they've both done very well, they've come through the youth teams and they look like they have bright futures at this level but there's still time for them to develop and we won't be rushing anything."

With the number of substitutions available to Kerr now limited to six in friendly games and the manager professing the need to use this match as serious preparation for the game against Israel at the end of March, none of the younger men is likely to make much more than a fleeting appearance on this occasion.

"The game is very close to the Israel one so I don't think you's say there will be too much by way of experimentation," he said. "But it's good that there are young players in the squad who are keen to play and make an impression." The Portuguese will present a very different type of challenge to the one expected when the Irish visit Tel Aviv but Kerr still insists that he is more than happy with the opposition and the opportunity it will afford him to take another look at things.

"Portugal are very much 4-3-3, that's the way they've been when we've played them at any level over the last few years whereas against Israel things will be a bit more packed in the middle.

"Portugal beat Russia 7-1 before Christmas and they were frighteningly good that night so short of bringing back Brazil this is the team that I would have picked to play."

SQUAD: Given (Newcastle United), Kenny (Sheffield United), Murphy (Walsall/West Brom), Finnan (Liverpool), Carr (Newcastle United), Maybury (Leicester City), O'Shea (Manchester United), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Breen (Sunderland), Dunne (Manchester City), Doherty (Norwich City), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Roy Keane (Manchester United), Kavanagh (Cardiff City), Quinn (Sheffield United), Miller (Manchester United), Reid (Nottingham Forest), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea), Elliott (Sunderland), McGeady (Celtic), Macken (Manchester City), Barrett (Coventry City), Lee (Cardiff City), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Morrison (Birmingham City).