Mark Kennedy, the Wimbledon winger, has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad as a replacement for Keith O'Neill for next Wednesday's game against Sweden at Lansdowne Road.

Kennedy, who won the last of his 19 caps in the scoreless draw with Mexico almost a year ago, was one of four players alerted for stand-by duty when Mick McCarthy announced his squad last week. He now gets his chance because of a groin injury O'Neill sustained earlier this week, the latest in a long series of injury problems for the Middlesborough player.