Stephen Ireland has been included in an extended Republic of Ireland squad announced by coaches Marco Tardelli and Liam Brady this afternoon.
Giovanni Trapattoni's assistants, appearing together for the first time today, announced the 40-man squad for the training camp in the Algarve and the subsequent friendly games against Serbia and Colombia on May 24th and 29th respectively, will be cut to 28 at the start of next month.
"A preliminary squad of 40 players has been selected with the help of Don Givens for the training camp in May and the two internationals against Serbia and Colombia on May 24th and May 29th," said Brady in Abbotstown today.
"We will be outlining the programme to these 40 players in next few days and that squad will be reduced to 28 in early May."
The pair revealed they had yet to contact Manchester City Ireland, who has not played for his country since leaving the squad prior to the Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic last September.
Ireland, whose excuse that his grandmother's death led to his departure proved false in the extreme, has since been omitted from squads picked by then manager Steve Staunton and stand-in boss Givens.
Brady, however, was adamant that the player has a part to play under the new manager.
"He will definitely be in the 28, unless he indicates that he doesn't want to be there," said Brady. "And if there are any issues to be resolved, we're happy to speak to him."
The inflated squad allows for the inclusion of some less familiar names, like those of midfielders Owen Garvan of Ipswich Town, Martin Rowlands of QPR and Glenn Whelan of Stoke City.
Up front Sean Scannell of Crystal Palace is included along with club teammate Clinton Morrison.
Efforts are also being made to coax defenders Andy O'Brien and Liverpool's Steve Finnan out of retirement, with feedback from the latter sounding psoitive so far.
Meanwhile, former internationals Mick Martin and Frank Stapleton have been recruited as scouts for the new management team, while Alan Kelly is to return as goalkeeping coach.
Preliminary Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Given (Newcastle), Henderson (Preston North End), Kenny (Sheffield United), Randolph (Charlton Athletic/Bury), Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United)
Defenders: Kelly (Birmingham City), Dunne (Manchester City), Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), O'Shea (Manchester United), J. O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), McShane (Sunderland), Foley (Wolves), O'Dea (Celtic).
Midfielders: Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Miller (Sunderland), Ireland (Manchester City), Duff (Newcastle United), McGeady (Celtic), Andy Reid (Sunderland), Carsley (Everton), Gibson (Manchester United/Wolves), Hunt (Reading), Potter (Wolves), Garvan (Ipswich Town), Hoolahan (Blackpool), McPhail (Cardiff City), Rowlands (QPR), Whelan (Stoke City).
Forwards: Elliott (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Morrisson (Crystal Palace), Long (Reading), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Stokes (Sunderland), Murphy (Sunderland), Scannell (Crystal Palace), O'Donovan (Sunderland), Connolly (Sunderland).
