Trapattoni recalls Finnan

Finnan comes back from retirement.


Liverpool's aging defender Steve Finnan has decided to come out of retirement and help his national side qualify for the World Cup in 2010.

Another Premiership player,Andy O'Brien has rejected the call up.

Finnan is amongst six players who have returned for Republic of Ireland after missing friendlies in May against Serbia and Colombia.

Trapattoni had this to say,

"I am happy that Steve Finnan has agreed to return to international football. He is an experienced player and he still has a lot to give to the team."

I respect Andy O'Brien's decision and I thank him for letting us know. Stephen Ireland has told us he is not yet ready to make himself available but has indicated that he may do so in the future. As I have said before, my door remains open."

Ireland's qualifiers open next month but they start the campaign against Norway to get the team up and running.

Full squad: Given (Newcastle), Kiely (West Brom), Bruce (Ipswich), Delaney (QPR), Dunne (Manchester City), Finnan (Liverpool), Foley (Wolves), Kilbane (Wigan), J O'Brien (Bolton), O'Shea (Manchester United), Duff (Newcastle), Hunt (Reading), McGeady (Celtic), Miller (Sunderland), A Reid (Sunderland), S Reid (Blackburn), Whelan (Stoke), Doyle (Reading), Keane (Liverpool), Keogh (Wolves), Long (Reading), Murphy (Sunderland).