McAteer back in the fold

Rep of Ireland v Brazil: Wednesday, February 18th Lansdowne Road, 7.30 When Carlos Alberto Parreira named his squad for Brazil's trip to Dublin last week there was considerable excitement here at the news that 11 of the 13 players who had featured in the World Cup final victory over Germany were to be among the travelling party.

Quite how the Brazilians have taken Brian Kerr's decision to include Paddy Kenny in his squad for the game is not clear.

Kenny's inclusion and Jason McAteer's return after a long lay-off through injury were as close as yesterday's squad announcement by the Ireland manager came to producing a story of note. In truth, neither inclusion would have generated much shock had they come out of the blue, but injuries to others had, in fact, ensured both were widely expected ahead of Kerr's lunchtime press conference.

McAteer's call-up, his first since captaining the team on that night of mayhem in Moscow, is certainly no surprise after the form he has shown at Sunderland since regaining his fitness. And it would appear to end speculation that the former Liverpool midfielder's chances of adding to his 51 international caps would be hampered by a poor relationship with Mick McCarthy's successor.

Both men had repeatedly denied a rift, and Kerr yesterday welcomed the return of a player who, he said, had "probably been the most consistent performer" on the right side of midfield during the previous regime.

"He has character, experience and desire," added Kerr, for whom the right flank unexpectedly emerged as a problem area over the past year.

And with Dean Kiely gone and Nicky Colgan once again consigned to long stretches of reserve team football, an injury to Shay Given could quickly land Kerr with difficulties in the goalkeeping department too.

When Kenny, a regular at Sheffield United since arriving from Bury a couple of seasons ago, was suggested to the Ireland boss last April as a candidate to replace Kiely in the squad, Kerr was, to say the least, lukewarm, observing: "He's in with a chance, but so is anyone who is Irish, has boots, is not overweight and under 46."

Kenny seems to meet the age and footwear requirements without difficulty, although his weight has been an issue. Still, at just 25 he is young for a goalkeeper and, Kerr conceded yesterday, with Colgan injured the only other options just now consist of players in the 20-22 age bracket, none of whom is playing regularly for his club.

"I don't think that it's satisfactory that the cover we have for Shay Given would be that young," said Kerr. "Anyway, I've seen Paddy play a few times this season and he's done well. I've also talked to Neil Warnock and David Kelly (the former Republic of Ireland striker who is assistant manager at United) and they reckon he's ready, that he's been an important part of how well the club has done of the past couple of seasons."

Warnock, who first plucked Kenny from non-league football five years ago while manager of Bury, has been championing the goalkeeper's cause for some time and was clearly delighted by the news, saying the call up was "no surprise to me" and "a tribute to all the hard work he has put in".

The player himself, who, though raised in Yorkshire, qualifies for the Republic due to his Longford-born father, Patrick, and two maternal grandparents from Mayo, simply marvelled at how quickly things have happened for him.

"It's not so long ago I was playing for Bradford Park Avenue in the Unibond League and working as an engineer," he said yesterday. "It wasn't particularly glamorous and I was earning £300 between the two.

"It was tough combining them, but it's all paid off. Obviously, I'm chuffed to bits - this is a big achievement. I spoke to Brian Kerr on Sunday and he told me to just come and do my best. I don't really expect to play, but it's great to join up with the squad, train, get my foot in the door and see how it goes."

Kerr, meanwhile, will be without Colin Healy, Liam Miller and Steven Reid, who are injured, and Gary Breen for whom, the manager said, the game has come too soon after a spell on the sidelines.

Of more concern, however, is the availability of Damien Duff who Claudio Ranieri seemed to suggest at the weekend was still some way off returning to a Chelsea side that has sorely missed him.

"I spoke to Damien last week and he said he was hoping to be all right this week," said Kerr. "If he plays against Portsmouth or Arsenal over the coming week then I'd expect him to join up with us, because Chelsea have been very good with us since he went there last summer. If not, then so be it."