Trapattoni shows faith Keane

Giovanni Trapattoni has opted to retain Robbie Keane as Republic of Ireland captain and will attempt to lure defenders Steve Finnan and Andy O'Brien out of international retirement.

Confirmation that Keane will lead the side into the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign came today, when the Italian's assistants Liam Brady and Marco Tardelli unveiled his first Republic of Ireland squad.

The 40-man squad will be whittled down to 28 by early May, in time for the training camp in Portugal later in the month and ahead of friendly ties with Serbia (May 24th) and Colombia (May 29th).

"I thought I might get that question today so I rang Giovanni and Robbie is captain and will stay as captain - he has a lot of personality and experience," Brady said in Abbotstown this afternoon.

"I've also made contact with Steve Finnan and Andy O'Brien — in the case of Andy I've spoken to his father and I'd like him to agree to meet with me and the manager in the next few weeks.

"Steve Finnan has agreed to meet me in the next two weeks and I'm hoping that's a good sign.

"I hope it's good because Trapattoni has been watching these games (Ireland's qualifiers) and keeps talking to me about him and wants him badly.

"I believe it will take the manager to convince the players to come back and in that we have to look at (goalkeeper) Dean Kiely too, not just Andy and Finnan."

The squad includes seven players from Roy Keane's Sunderland, prompting questions over the uneasy relationship between Keane and Brady.
 
Speaking last week in Dublin, Keane labelled Brady a 'translator' for Trapattoni, but the Arsenal academy director was keen to put personal differences aside.

"I was very surprised - that it took so long," Brady joked of Keane's insult. "You know as well as I do that Roy and myself go back a long way, with a difference in opinion of how things went in 2002.

"I took my stance, and in all probability what he had to say was down to that particular stance. I have to work with him, the new manager has to work with him.

"He's done a great job with Sunderland and it looks like they will stay up so I hope him, and his assistants, can develop the Ireland players who are with him."