Manchester City star, Stephen Ireland has been selected in the squad, but it remains to be seen if his club manager Stuart Pearce will permit him to travel, just a couple of days prior to what may be an FA Cup weekend for his club. Bolton Wanderers declined to release Joey O’Brien who has been a regular in their Premiership campaign in recent months.

In addition to Stephen Ireland, there are six further players attached to Premiership clubs although Paul McShane of Manchester United and Mark Yeates of Tottenham Hotspur are on season long loans to Brighton & Hove Albion and Colchester United respectively. Of the others, Marcos Painter at Birmingham City and Michael Timlin at Fulham are first team squad members on the verge of breaking into the starting eleven on a consistent basis. Goalkeeper Colin Doyle of Birmingham City has recently experienced a very productive loan period with Championship club Millwall.

The Eircom League is represented by five players, with newcomer Stephen Bradley of FAI Cup winners Drogheda United joining UCD’s Gary Dicker and Darren Quigley together with Roy O’Donovan from Cork City and Stephen Ward of Bohemians, all of whom have previously been selected in squads at this level.

Ireland will meet hosts Madeira in their opening fixture on Tuesday 14 February 2006 (St Valentine’s Day) and will follow up with their second fixture against Finland the following day. The final group encounter with Tournament favourites Portugal will take place on Friday 17 February 2006.

Squad: Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Darren Quigley (UCD), Keith Keane (Luton Town), Gerard Nash (Ipswich Town), Paul McShane (Loan-Brighton & Hove Albion), Marcos Painter (Birmingham City), James Hand (Huddersfield Town), Shane McFaul (Notts County), Gary Dicker (UCD), Michael Collins (Huddersfield Town), Michael Timlin (Fulham), Willo Flood (Manchester City), Stephen Ireland (Manchester City), Stephen Foley (Bournemouth), Stephen Bradley (Drogheda United), Aiden McGeady (Glasgow Celtic), Stephen Ward (Bohemians), Andy Keogh (Scunthorpe United), Mark Yeates (Loan- Colchester United), Roy O’Donovan (Cork City).