Roy Keane was today named in the Republic of Ireland squad for next week's friendly in Poland, but the former skipper will not be taking up the captain's armband.
Brian Kerr, who announced his 24-man squad in Dublin this afternoon, is to keep faith with Birmingham's Kenny Cunningham who has led the Republic in the most of the manager's 13 games in charge. Matt Holland has deputised when Cunningham has been either injured or suspended.
It is 23 months since Keane played for the national side, following the Saipan debacle, and should he make an appearance in Bydgoszcz on Wednesday next, it will be his first under Kerr.
"At our recent meeting, Roy expressed a deep interest in the Ireland team and especially in relation to some of the younger players coming through," Kerr said. "Roy has made himself available and comes into the squad under the same terms as everyone else."
Kerr refused to be drawn on whether the Manchester United captain would feature on the pitch in Poland stating that his inclusion was based on Keane's desire to make himself available for the next senior fixture.
"He's in the squad isn't he?," Kerr quipped when asked if the 32-year-old would play. However, it is believed Keane, who has missed his last three club games with a thigh strain and is not certain to face Charlton tonight, may travel with the squad but delay his playing comeback until later.
Keane's club boss, Alex Ferguson, who, it is claimed, originally believed the player would play in competitive internationals only, now faces a testing fortnight in nursing Keane through what could prove the Corkman's most congested schedule all season.
Losing Keane to a meaningless midweek friendly in the depths of Poland will greatly frustrate Ferguson, despite his public show of approval, and with crunch Premiership games between Liverpool and Blackburn either side of the international, Keane's decision to travel adds further substance to reports of a growing divide between the two.
According to Kerr, Keane's return was not purposely staged for an away fixture to gradually reintroduce the player and to also avoid a possible backlash from any disgruntled fans at Lansdowne Road.
He said: "[Poland] is the next match and it just happens to be an away game. That is not of my choosing."
Kerr also dismissed reports there would be disquiet within the squad over the return of the United midfielder and hoped that all concerned, including the supporters, could "move on together.
"I understand that some people will be disappointed or have a lingering annoyance," he said, "but I hope people will prove mature enough to say we've moved on. I don't envisage any great problems. We're all mature and it's been a few years since Saipan.
"There are lots of benefits [to Keane's return]", said Kerr. "There are young players who need a helping hand . . . and nobody in their right mind would suggest that Roy Keane at 32, 33, 34 or even 35 years of age would not have a positive effect on this team."
Stephen Carr, who missed the 2-1 friendly win over the Czech Republic last month, was originally named in today's squad but was quickly withdrawn after suffering a back injury. The Tottenham star will now miss Sunday's crucial London derby with Arsenal at White Hart Lane.
Also returning, having withdrawn from the Czech squad through injury, are Nick Colgan, David Connolly and Andy O'Brien while John O'Shea, Gary Breen and Jason McAteer return having also missed the Lansdowne friendly because of club commitments. Alan Maybury and Liam Miller were late call ups for the Czech game and retain their places.
Graham Kavanagh is likely to miss the remainder of Cardiff City's season with an ankle injury and his international days could be numbered following Keane's return but the battling midfielder was remaining optimistic that he will again feature in an Irish jersey.
Kavanagh said: "I am very passionate about playing for my country and when I am fully fit again, I will be trying as hard as I can to get back into the squad."
Irish fans will be encouraged by the call up for Damien Duff, despite the Chelsea star missing tonight's Champion's League semi-final against Monaco, with a fever.
Republic of Ireland: Given (Newcastle), Colgan (Hibernian), Kenny (Sheff Utd), Maybury (Hearts),
Cunningham (Birmingham), Doherty (Tottenham), Harte (Leeds), Carr (Tottenham), O'Brien (Newcastle), Breen (Sunderland), O'Shea (Man Utd), Miller (Celtic), Roy Keane (Man Utd), Reid (Nottm For), Holland (Charlton), Delap (Southampton), McAteer (Sunderland), Kinsella (West Brom), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea), Lee (Cardiff), Connolly (West Ham), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Morrison (Birmingham).