Soccer Digest:Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton will name his squad this afternoon for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia at Croke Park, reports Emmet Malone.
Kevin Doyle and Shay Given are available again after missing the trip to San Marino while Robbie Keane and Damien Duff have also recovered from recent injuries.
The current form of Sunderland's David Connolly has prompted suggestions from his club manager, Roy Keane, that the striker be recalled while Sheffield United's Derek Geary and Birmingham City goalkeeper Colin Doyle are in with a shout of receiving call-ups.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland have dropped five places to 51st in the official Fifa rankings - Northern Ireland have overtaken Staunton's side by climbing two places to 47th.
Forthcoming opponents Wales and Slovakia fell two places to 77th and four to 37th, respectively.
Lengthy ban for Navarro
Uefa have banned Valencia's David Navarro for seven months following the brawl after the Champions League game against Inter Milan.
Uefa also asked Fifa to extend the ban to include all football and fined both clubs 250,000 Swiss francs (€156,000).
Five other players were suspended, four of them from Inter. Valencia defender Carlos Marchena was banned for four matches.
Platini looks after own
Uefa president Michel Platini said yesterday he would urge Fifa chief Sepp Blatter to stick to his guns by making sure Europe is awarded the 2018 World Cup finals. "He has originally agreed to a three-year rotation in the past with Europe getting it on the third year, so I will push for him to stick to this," Platini said.
No joy yet for league
The FAI have conceded that the eight League of Ireland players affected by Fifa's ban on players featuring for more than two clubs in the one year will not receive clearance to play this weekend, writes Emmet Malone.
The association has made representations on behalf of all of the affected players. Fifa's players' status committee now has five working days to consider the situation.
Givens picks his men
Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens has picked a 17-man squad for the international friendly match against the Netherlands at the Stadium De Koel in Venlo on Tuesday, 27th March (kick-off 8pm).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND(v the Netherlands): D Quigley (UCD), D Randolph (Charlton), T Kane (Cercle Brugge KSC), J O'Cearuill (Arsenal), R Keogh (Bristol City), D O'Dea (Celtic), S O'Halloran (Aston Villa), C Powell (Bohemians), JP Kelly (Bohemians), D Gibson (Royal Antwerp), P Keegan (Drogheda), S Quinn (Sheff Utd), M Collins (Huddersfield), I Morris (Scunthorpe), A Rooney (Stoke), B Clarke (Ipswich), J O'Brien (Dunfermline).
West Brom hopes slide
West Brom's hopes of gaining automatic promotion back to the Premiership were dealt a blow last night as they lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace.
Neil Clement opened the scoring for the home side before Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison equalised.
Ben Watson put Palace ahead before the break, Kevin Phillips equalised but Lewis Grabban scored an injury-time winner.
Carr comes through
Newcastle United have no new injury worries for tonight's Uefa Cup fourth round second leg clash at AZ Alkmaar (ITV 1, kick-off 7.35pm).
Stephen Carr and Emre both came through last week's 4-2 victory in the first leg unscathed after lengthy absences.
In brief . . .
Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestrehas been ruled out for the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder against Lille last week, the club confirmed yesterday . . . Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge(26) will be unavailable until early next month following surgery on his knee yesterday . . . Former West Ham winger Stan Lazaridis(34) has tested positive for the banned substance finasteride, his current club Perth Glory confirmed yesterday.
