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Kavanagh recalled for Republic showdown

Gordon Tynan
Friday 03 October 2003 00:00 BST
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Cardiff City's captain, Graham Kavanagh, has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad for the crucial Group 10 European Championship qualifier against Switzerland on 11 October.

Kavanagh, who won his first cap for the Republic against the Czech Republic in Olomouc in March 1998, has played just three times for his country winning his last cap against Northern Ireland in a friendly at Lansdowne Road in May 1999.

The Manchester City defender Richard Dunne has withdrawn from the squad with of an ankle injury. But the Spurs striker Robbie Keane who was ruled out by injury for the 1-1 draw with Russia in Dublin last month, is back in the frame.

The captain, Kenny Cunningham, is suspended for one game and the manager, Brian Kerr, has Manchester United's John O'Shea and Newcastle's Andy O'Brien in mind as his replacement.

Berti Vogts has drafted Manchester United youngster, Darren Fletcher, and the Wolves striker, Kenny Miller, into his Scotland squad for the final Euro 2004 qualifier against Lithuania.

Scotland know they need to win at Hampden Park, which is a sell-out for the first time in four years, and hope Germany do not lose against Iceland at the same time to book their place in an anxious play-off.

The captain, Paul Lambert, and the Rangers striker Steven Thompson are injured, while Maurice Ross is suspended after his sending off in Dortmund, so Vogts has turned to Fletcherand Miller.

The Old Trafford midfielder has impressed for the Scotland Under-21 side and Miller scored the vital equalising goal against Germany at Hampden Park.

SCOTLAND SQUAD (v Lithuania, Group 5 European Championship qualifier, Hampden Park, 11 October): Alexander (Cardiff), Douglas (Celtic), Stillie (Dunfermline), Alexander (Preston), Caldwell (Newcastle), Dailly (West Ham), Pressley, Webster (both Hearts), Wilkie (Dundee), Cameron (Wolves), Devlin (Watford), Ferguson (Blackburn), Fletcher (Manchester United), Harper (Portsmouth), McNamara (Celtic), Naysmith (Everton), Rae (Dundee), Crawford (Dunfermline), Dickov (Leicester), McCann (Southampton), McFadden (Everton), Miller (Wolves).

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD (v Switzerland, Group 10 European Championship qualifier, Basle, 11 October): Given (Newcastle), Colgan (Stockport), Murphy (West Bromwich Albion), Carr (Tottenham), Finnan (Liverpool), Breen (Sunderland), Harte (Leeds), O'Brien (Newcastle), O'Shea (Manchester United); Carsley (Everton), Healy (Sunderland), Holland (Charlton), Kavanagh (Cardiff), Kinsella (Aston Villa), McPhail (Nottingham Forest), Reid (Blackburn), Kilbane (Everton), Connolly (West Ham), Doherty (Tottenham), Duff (Chelsea), Keane (Tottenham), Morrison (Birmingham).

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