Paul Butler, the Sunderland central defender, is among the 30 players named yesterday in the Republic of Ireland's preliminary squad for the World Cup meeting with the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 2nd.

It is his first inclusion since his ill-fated international debut against the Czech Republic in February, when he was substituted at half-time because of a damaged hamstring.

Before his abrupt departure, he had suffered palpably against the big Czech striker Jan Koller and, significantly, he failed to gain a recall after his fitness problems had cleared.

His selection now reflects the formidable problems facing Mick McCarthy in central defence in the wake of the loss of the injured Wimbledon player Kenny Cunningham, who figured in all the Euro 2000 qualifying games.

Phil Babb, newly transferred to Sporting Lisbon, is short of match practice and, with Richard Dunne set to start a five-match suspension after being sent off three times last season, the manager has obvious difficulties in finding a partner for Gary Breen.

Whether Butler survives the cut after the squad has been reduced to 22 on August 28th is open to question, but, for the moment at least, he will be happy that he is still in contention.

Apart from Cunningham, the only other notable absentee is Stephen McPhail. McPhail's availability was always in doubt after missing Leeds United's preseason programme.

The effect is to facilitate the inclusion of the Stoke City midfielder Graham Kavanagh. Kavanagh gets in ahead of Alan Mahon who was capped twice in the end of season programme.

Two other players who were in the squad which toured America in June, Gary Doherty and Barry Quinn, have been released to play in the European under-21 championship game against the Netherlands on the eve of the senior encounter.

In every other respect, however, McCarthy has been faithful to those who made themselves available for the tour.

Included in this category is Watford's Dominic Foley and the Ipswich Town midfielder Matt Holland who could, conceivably, have a role to play against the Dutch after impressing McCarthy with his high work-rate.

The inclusion of the luckless Keith O'Neill is a timely boost for the Middlesborough player.

Lee Carsley, missing since the first leg of the European championship play-off against Turkey, is also recalled, but, in many respects, the most significant choice of all is that of the veteran Fulham full back, Terry Phelan.

Phelan, whose last competitive start was in the World Cup meeting with Romania almost three years ago, rolled back the years with some impressive performances in America.

Now, depending on whether McCarthy wishes to pursue the option of deploying Ian Harte as a central defender against the Dutch, he may be required as cover for Steve Staunton in the left-back position.

Ireland Squad (v the Netherlands, Amsterdam Arena, Saturday, September 2nd): A Kelly (Blackburn), Given (Newcastle), Kiely (Charlton), Carr (Tottenham), G Kelly (Leeds), Harte (Leeds), Staunton (Liverpool), Breen (Coventry), Dunne (Everton), Babb (Sporting Lisbon), Phelan (Fulham), Butler (Sunderland), Fleming (Middlesbrough), Roy Keane (Manchester United), Kinsella (Charlton), Finnan (Fulham), McAteer (Blackburn), Kennedy (Man City), Kilbane (Sunderland), Duff (Blackburn), Carsley (Blackburn), Kavanagh (Stoke), Hol- land (Ipswich), Quinn (Sunderland), O'Neill (Middlesbrough), Connolly (Excelsior), Robbie Keane (Inter Milan), Foley (Watford), Farrelly (Bolton), Delap (Derby).