ACE STEPHEN IS INVITED TO A GLEE PARTY
BIRMINGHAM CITY midfielder Stephen Gleeson has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for tomorrow’s friendly with Iceland. Gleeson, who won his only caps on the 2006 tour of America under Steve Staunton, will train with the squad in Dublin today. Capped twice, the 28-year-old has been involved under Martin O’neill and was an unused sub in the friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia a year ago. He was named in the provisional 39-man squad for Friday’s qualifier with Wales and this clash with the Euro 2016 quarter-finalists, but did not make the final cut. O’neill gave his players the weekend off and the squad reported back to the team hotel in Castleknock at 8.00pm last night. But veterans John O’shea, James Mccarthy, Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters all returned to their clubs on Saturday and will play no part tomorrow night. O’shea had stitches in a shin injury inflicted by Gareth Bale who was fortunate not to see red for his reckless challenge on Friday. Mccarthy failed a fitness test before that Wales game and was withdrawn from the starting XI, with David Meyler getting a late callup. Stoke City pair Walters and Whelan played 90 minutes on Friday but Whelan was in the wars and required a head bandage after Aaron Ramsey caught him with a boot. O’neill will ring the changes against Iceland but remains without injured Wes Hoolahan, Ciaran Clark, Shane Duffy and Daryl Murphy. Robbie Brady is available after suspension while Cyrus Christie, who replaced Seamus Coleman when he broke his leg, is expected to start. Kevin Doyle, Keiren Westwood, Alex Pearce, Aiden Mcgeady, David Meyler, Eunan O’kane, Jonny Hayes and Callum O’dowda are vying for starts. And Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle, John Egan and Conor Hourihane are hoping to make their senior international debuts.