SOCCER/ Friendly International: Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has, as expected, taken Roy Keane at his word and resisted any temptation to allow his differences with the Manchester United captain get another public airing by not including the midfielder, 31 today, in his 25-man squad for the friendly international with Finland in Helsinki on Wednesday week.

Keane expressed his view on his club's television channel MUTV earlier in the week that he would like to play for Ireland again but not under its current management.

McCarthy could have thrown further fuel on the fire of his much publicised row with his former captain at the World Cup by naming him in the panel and waiting to see if he turns up. But, with the FAI's full backing, McCarthy has not thrown down any such gauntlet and it appears Keane's international career is effectively over.

Away from that controversy, Stephen Carr's return to the international arena, following a year out of the game with a knee injury, is the most welcome feature of McCarthy's squad announcement and a huge boost to the team.

With Alan Kelly, Steve Staunton and Niall Quinn retiring from international football, the Tottenham Hotspur right-back is one of seven players named in the panel who were not part of the 23-man squad in Korea/Japan.

Included among them is Celtic midfielder Colin Healy who narrowly missed out from being allowed to join up with the squad in Saipan following Keane's expulsion.

With David Connolly and Mark Kennedy unavailable due to injury, there are few surprises in the panel save for the return of Stephen McPhail, the talented Leeds United left-sided midfielder who endured a difficult last season which included an unhappy spell out on loan at First Division Millwall.

Nicky Colgan replaces Kelly in the trio of goalkeepers while, predictably, Richard Sadlier and Gary Doherty come in for Quinn and Staunton.

Midfielder Rory Delap, whom many felt unlucky not to have made the World Cup squad after a good season at Southampton, returns in the hope of earning his eighth cap.

Somewhat surprisingly, McCarthy hasn't selected John O'Shea, who has two full caps.

The Manchester United central defender will instead captain the under-21 side who meet Finland in Helsinki on the eve of the senior game.

Nottingham Forest left-back Keith Foy, criticised last season for his lack of fitness, is a notable absentee from manager Don Givens' panel following their very poor showing at the Toulon festival back in May. Defender John Thompson, midfielder Dwayne Mattis and striker Ben Burgess return.

Caps Goals Goalkeepers

Shay Given (Newcastle United) 43 -

Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic) 6 -

Nicky Colgan (Hibernian) 1 -

Defenders

Ian Harte (Leeds United) 44 8

Richard Dunne (Man City) 14 3

Gary Breen (West Ham United) 47 6

Andy O'Brien (Newcastle Utd) 5 -

Gary Kelly (Leeds United) 50 2

Ken Cunningham (Birmingham) 40 -

Steve Finnan (Fulham) 19 1

Steve Carr (Tottenham Hotspur) 18 -

Midfielders

Caps Goals

Jason McAteer (Sunderland) 49 3

Matt Holland (Ipswich Town) 23 4

Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland) 37 3

Mark Kinsella (Charlton Ath) 32 3

Lee Carsley (Everton) 20 -

Rory Delap (Southampton) 7 -

Stephen McPhail (Leeds United) 4 1

Steven Reid (Millwall) 7 2

Colin Healy (Celtic) 3 -

Forwards

Robbie Keane (Leeds United) 37 13

Damien Duff (Blackburn Rvs) 30 2

Clinton Morrison (Birmingham) 7 2

Richard Sadlier (Millwall) 1 -

Gary Doherty (Tottenham) 9 1