Niall Quinn returns to Irish squad

Niall Quinn has been given the chance to set a new goalscoring record after being included in the Republic of Ireland squad to…

Niall Quinn has been given the chance to set a new goalscoring record after being included in the Republic of Ireland squad to meet Andorra next Wednesday.

Quinn (34) is poised to win his 83rd international cap in the Group Two World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road.

He shares the Irish record of 20 goals with former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Frank Stapleton. But a back injury has limited Quinn's recent appearances for the Republic.

Manager Mick McCarthy last week originally named a massive 30-man squad, but today cut the travelling party to 22 players.

READ MORE

Charlton keeper Dean Kiely, Blackburn winger Damien Duff and Middlesbrough pair Keith O'Neill and Curtis Fleming are ruled out by injury.

From the original squad there is no room for Coventry midfielder Barry Quinn, Bolton's Gareth Farrelly or Stoke's Graham Kavanagh.

But there is a recall for Manchester City winger Mark Kennedy. He had been left out of the squad after being arrested in Dublin following a late-night incident prior to the Republic's 2-2 draw with Holland in Amsterdam last September.

PA