U21s Ready For Russia

By Ade O`Connor
August 26 2003

Don Givens has named his Ireland under-21 side to play Russia in Waterford on Friday September 5, the day before the senior teams clash in the all-important European Championship Qualifying game. Givens recalls 5 players from the squad that beat Poland 5-1 last week.

After experimenting with a number of new faces for the Poland game, and very successfully so, Givens returns to a tried and tested formula with Nottingham Forest pair John Thompson and Andy Reid, Graham Barrett of Coventry City, Thomas Butler of Sunderland and Liam Miller of Celtic returning to the frame.

However, a few players will also feature in the under 20 game against the Czech Republic two days before this fixture, including Elliot who grabbed a hat-trick versus Poland. Givens still expects these men to play a part in the game.

Earlier in the day, Republic of Ireland international Stephen McPhail joined Nottingham Forest on a three-month loan from Leeds United.

The talented midfielder had been on the fringe of the Leeds squad, and felt by returning to the coach that brought him through the ranks in Paul Hart, he could get a taste of first team action once again.

Republic of Ireland under 21 squad to play Russia in the RSC on Friday September 5:

Daniel Connor (Waterford)
Saul Deeney (Notts County)
Stephen Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur)
Clifford Byrne (Sunderland)
John Thompson (Nottingham Forest)
Stephen Capper (Scarborough)
Colin Cryan (Sheffield United)
Stephen Brennan (Newcastle United)
Patrick Kohlmann (Borussia Dortmund)
Thomas Butler (Sunderland)
Liam Miller (Glasgow Celtic)
Sean Thornton (Sunderland)
Wesley Hoolahan (Shelbourne)
Stephen Elliott (Manchester City)
Michael Doyle (Coventry City)
Graham Barrett (Coventry City)
Kevin O’Connor (Brentford)
Jonathon Daly (Stockport County)
John O’Flynn (Cork City)
Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest)