Keiren Called Up To Ireland Squad

Last updated : 17 May 2008 By Thetashkentterror

Keiren Westwood
After having a sparkling campaign for the Cumbrians and being voted into the PFA League One team of the season, the 23-year old has now received his first international call-up. The Manchester-born goalkeeper, of Roman Catholic religion, qualifying for the Ireland squad through his dad's mother.

Keiren would have been expecting to have the summer off following Thursday night's disappointing play-off defeat to Leeds but, with Colin Doyle dropping out of contention with a swollen knee, Westwood now takes his place.

The United keeper hopefully vying with Dean Kiely and Joe Murphy in the Republic training camp at the Estadio Municipal in Lagos, Portugal ahead of Sunday's practice match against Portimonese. Ireland then play Lagos the following day as new boss Giovanni Trapattoni gets a first chance to see his players in a match.

Trapattoni today commenting on Westwood's call-up :

"Yesterday I said we would stay as we are, but Alan, the goalkeeping coach, said he would maybe ask another because when we had the injury, it was impossible to stay with only two goalkeepers. Our scout told us Westwood played very well against Leeds. He was born in England, but his father is from Ireland, so I said, "Okay, call him up". He will come maybe tonight or tomorrow."

After their five-day training camp in Portugal the Ireland squad returns home to play two friendlies as they face Serbia on Saturday May 24 at Croke Park, Dublin and Colombia on Thursday, May 29 at Fulham's Craven Cottage. The full group of players for the matches being :


Goalkeepers:
Dean Kiely (West Brom), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe), Keiren Westwood (Carlisle Utd).

Defenders: Alex Bruce (Ipswich), Damien Delaney (QPR), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham), Paul McShane (Sunderland), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), John O'Shea (Man Utd).

Midfielders: Damien Duff (Newcastle), Owen Garvan (Ipswich), Wes Hoolahan (Blackpool), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Stephen McPhail (Cardiff), Liam Miller (Sunderland), Darren Potter (Wolves), Andy Reid (Sunderland), Martin Rowlands (QPR), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Glenn Whelan (Stoke).

Strikers: Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Shane Long (Reading), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland).