McShane replaces Foley for Irish

Posted Wednesday, May 30, 2012 by UEFA.com

Originally on standby, Hull City AFC defender Paul McShane has taken the place of Kevin Foley, who has been struggling with injury, in the Republic of Ireland's UEFA EURO 2012 squad.

Paul McShane shows his aerial power for Hull City

Giovanni Trapattoni has made an 11th-hour change to his Republic of Ireland squad for UEFA EURO 2012 by drafting in defender Paul McShane for Kevin Foley.

The versatile Foley, who has been battling with injury, had been in Italy with the squad for a training camp in Montecatini but Trapattoni has decided to replace the Wolverhampton Wanderers FC man with Hull City AFC's McShane, who had been on standby.

"Although Kevin has been recovering well, I have made the difficult decision to leave him out after completing fitness tests on John O'Shea and Paul McShane this morning," said Trapattoni. "I have spoken to him and understand how difficult it is, saying that he can remain with the squad if he wishes." The personnel switch is Ireland's second in three days after midfielder Paul Green took the place of Keith Fahey, who had a groin problem, at the weekend.

Fahey aggravated his injury in the warm-up before Saturday's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. "I knew something was wrong and I had to go for a scan," said the Birmingham City FC midfielder. "I could have hidden it and played within myself in training but I'm not that type of person."

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Aston Villa FC), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland AFC), David Forde (Millwall FC).

Defenders: John O'Shea (Sunderland AFC), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa FC), Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City FC), Darren O'Dea (Celtic FC), Stephen Kelly (Fulham FC), Paul McShane (Hull City AFC).

Midfielders: Glenn Whelan (Stoke City FC), Keith Andrews (West Bromwich Albion FC), Aiden McGeady (FC Spartak Moskva), Darron Gibson (Everton FC), Paul Green (unattached), Damien Duff (Fulham FC), Stephen Hunt (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), James McClean (Sunderland AFC).

Forwards: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion FC), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City FC), Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion FC).