Trapattoni brings in younger players

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has called a number of younger players into his squad for next month's friendly trip to Serbia.

He made the squad announcement in Co Donegal on Friday, handing younger players a chance to prove themselves in Belgrade.

Skipper Robbie Keane, keeper Shay Given, central defender Richard Dunne and midfielder Stephen Hunt have been left out as the Republic attempt to bounce back from their disappointing Euro 2012 campaign in Poland and Ukraine.

Stoke utility man Marc Wilson, Everton's Seamus Coleman and Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, who asked not to be considered for the Euro 2012 finals because his father was undergoing cancer treatment, are among the beneficiaries of Trapattoni's decision.

Trapattoni said: "This friendly offers us a great opportunity to try out younger players ahead of our World Cup qualifying campaign.

"As a result, I have decided to leave some of our senior players out of the squad for this fixture.

"Serbia are a very good team with a great football heritage, and will provide us with a great test before our game against Kazakhstan in September."

Trapattoni added: "I am looking forward to working with each of these players next month.

"As we prepare for a new journey for this team, it is important that we remember our last campaign as we build for a brighter future."

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Republic squad: Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall), Darren Randolph (Motherwell), Marc Wilson (Stoke), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Sean St Ledger (Leicester), Darren O'Dea (Unattached), Stephen Ward (Wolves), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Paul McShane (Hull), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Darron Gibson (Everton), James McCarthy (Wigan), Paul Green (Leeds), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Andy Keogh (Millwall), James McClean (Sunderland), Keith Treacy (Burnley), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long and Simon Cox (both West Brom), Jon Walters (Stoke).