Keiren Westwood out as Republic of Ireland trim down squad
Monday 2 October 2017 15:58, UK
Martin O'Neill has finalised his squad for vital World Cup Qualifiers against Moldova and Wales with three uncapped players remaining.
The squad, now trimmed down to 29, includes a trio of strikers who are yet to make their senior international debuts - Aston Villa's Scott Hogan, Millwall's Aiden O'Brien and Sean Maguire of Preston North End.
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O'Neill's squad is lacking Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, who has a rib injury, while Kevin Doyle has retired since the initial squad was named.
Westwood played through the pain barrier in the derby clash with Sheffield United last month but has been replaced by Joe Wildsmith for the Owls' last two games.
The squad got together at the FAI National Training Centre on the outskirts of Dublin on Monday with a number of players needing to be assessed by medical staff.
Ireland face winless Moldova on Friday at the Aviva Stadium looking to get back into the top two in Group D - James McClean and Robbie Brady are suspended for that match.
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Victory for O'Neill's side would then set up a crunch clash against second-placed Wales the following Monday with Chris Coleman's men first facing a trip to Georgia on Friday.
Republic squad:
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), David Meyler (Hull City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Jonathan Hayes (Celtic), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Daryl Horgan (Preston North End)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall)
