Last updated: 7th October 2008
Damien Duff has been selected in the Republic of Ireland squad but Giovanni Trapattoni will be without a trio of players.
Steve Finnan, Steven Reid and Stephen Kelly are all injured and will miss the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus next Wednesday - a game which can be seen live on Sky Sports 2.
Newcastle winger Duff is fit again after sitting out last month's matches against Georgia and Montenegro.
Trapattoni's side beat Georgia 2-1 before holding Montenegro to a goalless draw and they will be keen to strengthen their position in Group 8 in their first home game of the campaign.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Noel Hunt has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for Thursday's Senior International friendly match against Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park.
The Reading striker suffered concussion during his club's game against Burnley on Saturday which forced him to be substituted.
Shay Given (Newcastle United), Dean Kiely (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United); Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Damien Delaney (Queens Park Rangers), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), Joey O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Paul McShane (Sunderland); Stephen Hunt (Reading), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Newcastle United), Liam Miller (Sunderland), Andy Reid (Sunderland), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City); Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Andy Keogh (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Long (Reading), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland).

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
Skysports.com takes a look at striker Michael Owen's career to date following his Man United switch.
Skysports.com assesses Michael Owen's possible free transfer to Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo says that if Real were willing to pay £80million for his signature then it is a 'fair' price.
Fiorentina are open to the sale of Felipe Melo to Arsenal, while Karim Benzema turned down the chance to join Man United.
Wolves have made their sixth signing of the summer after bringing in Marseille defender Ronald Zubar.
Michael Owen is confident he will have the last laugh after his move to Old Trafford drew some criticism.
Real Madrid-bound striker Karim Benzema has revealed he turned down the chance to join Manchester United.