Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named young Wigan midfielder James McCarthy in his squad for the upcoming friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named young Wigan midfielder James McCarthy in his squad for the upcoming friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.
The former Hamilton midfielder has recently broken into the first team picture at the DW Stadium and has been rewarded with a call up to the full international fold along with fellow newcomers Marc Wilson of Portsmouth and Manchester City full-back Greg Cunningham.
Captain Robbie Keane will win his 97th cap and first since moving to the SPL with Celtic during the January transfer window.
There is still no sign of the exiled Stephen Ireland, while Andy Reid - out of favour with Trapattoni - is out for at least a month with a hamstring injury.
Trapattoni said: "I look forward to working with my squad again after the disappointment of Paris. The priority now is to build on the progress made during the last campaign and prepare ourselves over the coming months mentally and tactically for an important Euro campaign."
Squad v Brazil, March 2nd:
Given, Westwood, Murphy; Dunne, Kelly, Kilbane, Foley, St. Ledger, McShane, Wilson, Cunningham; McGeady, Duff, Gibson, Whelan, Andrews, S Hunt, Lawrence, McCarthy; Doyle, Keane, Long, Best.