Football: Quinn poised to return for Republic

NIALL QUINN, the Manchester City striker, is poised to make a dramatic return to the Republic of Ireland attack after being named in Jack Charlton's 21-man squad for the opening European Championship tie against Latvia in Riga on 7 September.

Quinn, who has been out of football for nine months after a cruciate ligament injury, is determined to win his 44th cap.' Missing the World Cup finals in America this summer was a huge disappointment,' he said. 'My target was always to be back in the squad for this game against Latvia.'

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD (v Latvia, Riga, 7 September): Bonner (Celtic), A Kelly (Sheffield United); G Kelly (Leeds United), Irwin (Manchester United), Phelan (Manchester City), McGrath (Aston Villa), Babb (Coventry), Kernaghan (Bolton), Houghton (Aston Villa), McAteer (Bolton), Keane (Manchester United), Sheridan (Sheffield Wednesday), McGoldrick (Arsenal), McLoughlin (Portsmouth), Staunton (Aston Villa), Townsend (Aston Villa), Quinn (Manchester City), Cascarino (Marseille), D Kelly (Wolves), Aldridge (Tranmere), Coyne (Motherwell).