Soccer

Bennett and Byrne added to squad

Defenders Alan Bennett and Richie Byrne have been added to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of tomorrow's 'B' international…

Paul O'Hehir
Mon Nov 19 2007 - 00:00

Defenders Alan Bennett and Richie Byrne have been added to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of tomorrow's 'B' international against Scotland in Airdrie.

Manager Pat Devlin was forced to act after Caleb Folan (Hull), Kevin Foley (Wolves) and Jay Tabb (Coventry) withdrew injured over the weekend.

Bennett, who is on loan at Southampton from Reading, caught the eye during the senior squad's summer tour to the United States and was unlucky not to make Devlin's initial selection.

Byrne is a former Shamrock Rovers full back who has been plying his trade with Aberdeen following an initial move to Dunfermline in 2003.

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"I am looking forward to meeting up with the squad," said the Dubliner, who missed most of last season with a hamstring injury that threatened to end his career.

"I have played for the Irish under-21 side before but this is the first time I have been involved at this level.

"Although I was not in the original squad it is still nice to know that I am in their (selectors) thoughts.  It will be a good experience."

Devlin's 17-man squad continue their preparations today with a training session at the match venue - the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.

Alex Bruce, an unused substitute in the senior team's drawn game with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, will captain the team although Devlin has yet to finalise his selection.

Scotland have lost five players from their squad through injury.

Goalkeepers David Marshall (Norwich) and Jamie Langfield (Aberdeen) have been ruled out, as have Celtic defender John Kennedy, West Brom midfielder James Morrison and Rangers striker Steven Naismith.

Dundee's Craig Samson and Motherwell's Graeme Smith come into the squad as replacement goalkeepers.  Wolves defender Neill Collins and Motherwell striker Ross McCormack have also been added.

Tomorrow's game kicks-off at 7.45pm.

Republic of Ireland B squad (revised):  Colin Doyle (Birmingham), Dan Connor (Drogheda), Alex Bruce (Ipswich), Graham Gartland (Drogheda), Sean Dillon (Dundee United), Jim Goodwin (Scunthorpe), Alan Bennett (on loan at Southampton), Richie Byrne (Aberdeen), Michael Doyle (Coventry), Glenn Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), Wes Hoolahan (Blackpool), David Bell (Luton), Roy O'Donovan (Sunderland), Mark Yeates (Colchester), Noel Hunt (Dundee United), Jon Walters (Ipswich), Stephen Ward (Wolves)