By Cathal Dervan

IRISH boss Brian Kerr will hand Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott his international debut against Croatia next week, with Manchester City youngster Willo Flood on stand-by for the Lansdowne Road friendly on Tuesday.

Elliott gets his chance because of Clinton Morrison’s injury in a 25 strong squad that also includes Celtic youngster Aiden McGeady.

Roy Keane has been rested for the game, with Flood likely to receive a call-up if Kerr loses any of his senior players to injury after this weekend’s Premiership games in England.

Kerr praised both Elliott and Flood, who signed for City together as teenagers, when he announced his squad on Monday afternoon. 

“Willo is a great hope for us,” claimed Kerr. “I saw him up close last Monday night against Norwich City and, if we lose attacking players, he could well end up in the squad. He is a special talent.”

Ian Harte has again been left out of the squad despite his good form with new Spanish club Levante but could earn a late call-up if Manchester United decide to send John O’Shea for surgery on a troublesome groin injury.

“I haven’t been to see Ian Harte,” added Kerr. “I have had him watched by a contact and he’s doing fine, but I have eight defenders in the squad as it is, nine if you include Gary Doherty. 

“We’ve conceded just two goals in seven games, so there’s no need to change it at the moment, but Ian has performed well in the past and he’ll get a chance again.

“I also considered Rory Delap but the players who have played in the last four games are all available now. I’ve selected him in plenty of squads and for one reason or another, mostly due to injury, he hasn’t been available to play. We’ve a 25-man squad there and you can’t include everyone that you’d like to.

“Roy Keane has played in four of our last five matches, but I felt it was right to give him a rest.”

Kerr has dismissed the claims of Fulham defender Zak Knight and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Kevin Nolan, both of whom have played for England at underage level in the past but have expressed interest in switching allegiances under the current FIFA amnesty.

“I didn’t investigate the Zak Knight situation and nobody contacted me in relation to him, or told me that he was eligible and willing to play,” said Kerr. 

“But it’s not about somebody saying, ‘If I can’t get my game for somebody else can you give me a game?’ It’s not like that playing for Ireland. You have to prove you’re eligible. You also have to prove you’re good enough – and it’s up to me to decide that.”

Republic of Ireland squad: Shay Given, Nick Colgan, Paddy Kenny, Alan Maybury, Steve Finnan, Kenny Cunningham, Stephen Carr, Andy O’Brien, Gary Doherty, Richard Dunne, Gary Breen, Matt Holland, John O’Shea, Kevin Kilbane, Liam Miller, Andy Reid, Graham Kavanagh, Alan Quinn, Graham Barrett, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Jonathan Macken, Alan Lee, Stephen Elliott, Robbie Keane.