Steve Staunton: 'Lee Carsley is still in my plans'

Aug 17 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Lee Carsley (158)

EVERTON midfielder Lee Carsley has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for next week’s friendly in Denmark.

But Steve Staunton insists the 33-year-old remains an integral part of his plans as Ireland aim to secure a place in next summer’s European Championship.

Next week’s friendly will serve as a warm-up for the September qualifiers against Slovakia and the Czech Republic and Staunton does not feel it necessary to include Carsley, who has began the season in fine form at Goodison, for the fixture in Aarhus.

Staunton said: "When Lee came back into the squad last year we agreed that if I was not going to use him I wouldn’t bring him around the world to sit on the bench.

"However, he is still in my plans for the games in September."

Shay Given and Damien Duff are also missing through injury but Stephen Carr returns after an absence of almost a year.

Ex-Everton midfielder Kevin Kilbane is poised to make his 81st appearance, moving him up to fifth on the country’s all-time list.