Dunne Latest Senior Player To Withdraw From Ireland Squad

Richard Dunne is the latest player to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad for Tuesday’s  utterly pointless friendly against Brazil at the Emerates Stadium. Dunne took a knock to his knee in the 2-1 Carling Cup final defeat to Manchester United and will miss the clash with Brazil as a result. The defender joins captain Robbie Keane, who withdrew from the squad on Sunday  also with a knock to the  knee so Dunne coming in too late with that excuse, and Trappatoni has resisted calling up any more players after calling up Anthony Stokes as cover for Keane.

Trappatoni also named his team declaring he would liked to have started the team which drew with France last year, although he cannot do so in the absence of Keane and Dunne. Trap says he can make six changes in the game and will almost certainly give a run to new caps James McCarthy, Greg Cunningham and Marc Wilson. McCarthy who qualified as a result of the granny rule, is carrying a leg injury into the game, but Trappatoni is confident that he will be fit to come on at some stage.

Republic of Ireland team to play Brazil at the Emirates Stadium, Tuesday at 8.05:

Shay Given, Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Sean St Ledger, Kevin Kilbane, Liam Lawrence, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Damien Duff, Leon Best, Kevin Doyle.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.