Anthony Pilkington gets fresh Republic of Ireland chance

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has handed Norwich winger Anthony Pilkington another chance to make his international debut.

The 25-year-old has been included in a provisional 26-man squad for next month's friendly against Wales.

England-born Pilkington has pulled out of two squads over the past four months because of injury.

LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane is not being asked to travel across the Atlantic for the Cardiff game.

Centre-back Richard Dunne is also an absentee as he attempts to regain full fitness with his new club Queens Park Rangers.

Wolves striker Kevin Doyle is again left out after falling out of favour with Trapattoni over the last six months.

The squad is otherwise along expected lines with Derby defender Richard Keogh and Millwall's Andy Keogh omitted after being involved in the four games in late May and early June - against England, Georgia, Faroe Islands and Spain.

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark returns after being unavailable for those matches because of injury.

The friendly in Cardiff on 15 August will form part of the preparations for the vital World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria in September.

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers

Forde (Millwall), Westwood (Sunderland), Randolph (Birmingham)

Defenders

O'Shea (Sunderland), St Ledger (Leicester), Wilson (Stoke), Coleman (Everton), Kelly (Reading), O'Dea (Metalurh Donetsk), Clark (Aston Villa), McShane (Hull City)

Midfielders

Whelan (Stoke), McCarthy (Wigan), Green (Leeds), Hendrick (Derby), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Pilkington (Norwich), McClean (Sunderland), Robbie Brady (Hull), Meyler (Hull), Quinn (Hull), Hoolahan (Norwich)

Forwards

Long (West Brom), Sammon (Derby), Walters (Stoke), Cox (Nottingham Forest)