Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton has resisted temptation to call Arsenal youngster Anthony Stokes and Cardiff City's Stephen McPhail into his senior squad for next week's European qualifier at home to San Marino.
Striker Stokes (18), on loan with Falkirk until January, has scored back-to-back-hat-tricks in the SPL but despite that form - which has drawn praise from Celtic boss Gordon Strachan - he must be content with a place in Staunton and Pat Devlin's 'B' squad.
"Anthony has always had potential, we always knew that," Staunton said today. "I think he went backwards for a while at Arsenal but switching to Falkirk has given him a new lease of life. He's only 18, so I thought it might be unfair (to call him up to the seniors)."
The 'B' internationals have been revived at an opportune time for experimentation and Devlin's Republic of Ireland side host Scotland at Dalymount Park next Tuesday, just 24 hours before the senior side play at Lansdowne Road.
McPhail's sparking form of late with the Championship leaders has not been enough to impress Staunton and he along with Newcastle's Alan O'Brien are the only players with senior caps included in the B squad.
Goalkeeper Shay Given, who missed the October internationals owing to a stomach injury, returns to the senior set-up but his participation still hangs in the balance as he lacks match practice and has only just returned to training with Newcastle. It appears his club manager, Glenn Roeder, will only release Given to play if he proves his fitness against Manchester City on Saturday.
Interestingly, there is no place in either squad for Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny as Wayne Henderson and veteran Nick Colgan are deemed second and third choice cover respectively. Staunton has afforded Kenny time off to aid his recovery from a string of niggling injuries and to also deal with personal issues.
Given's Newcastle team-mate Stephen Carr returns having missed the Cyprus and Czech Republic games because of injury while Richard Dunne, suspended for the latter game, is also back in contention.
Defender Andy O'Brien, midfielders Aiden McGeady and Stephen Ireland as well as strikers Kevin Doyle and Stephen Elliott all return, some just having missed the Czech game while fit-again Doyle and Elliott also missed the Cyprus match.
Lee Carsley was a late call-up prior to the Czech draw and retains his place following an impressive display but Graham Kavanagh is omitted, perhaps owing to recent surgery although he has already returned to Sunderland's first-team.
Sean St Ledger, something of a controversial selection in recent senior squads considering he has never been capped at any level, is demoted to the 'B' squad which consists largely of underage and eircom League players.
Derry City's Kevin Deery, Cork City pair Joe Gamble and Roy O'Donovan and Stephen Ward of Bohemians are the four representatives from the domestic league and notably there is no inclusion for Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne.
"There is a lot of potential in this squad and they will have an opportunity next week to show Stephen what they can do," Devlin said.
Leicester City defender Paddy McCarthy, who featured briefly under Brian Kerr but has continuously been overlooked by Staunton, also features in the 'B' squad as does Reading's Stephen Hunt, the Waterford man making headlines recently following a collision with Chelsea's Petr Cech.
Jay Tabb - a recent addition to senior squads - Michael Doyle, Clive Clarke and Shane Long are among the more high-profile fringe players who have missed out altogether
Pat Fenlon, the Shelbourne manager, will assist Devlin along with under-21 coach Paul Clement, Cork City goalkeeping coach Phil Harrington and Finn Harps masseur Michael McGlynn.
Rep of Ireland senior squad:Shay Given, Wayne Henderson, Nicky Colgan, Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan, Paul McShane, Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Andy O'Brien, Jonathan Douglas, Lee Carsley, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Kevin Kilbane, John O'Shea, Alan Quinn, Andy Reid, Stephen Ireland, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Alan Lee, Stephen Elliott, Clinton Morrison.
Rep of Ireland 'B' squad: Darren Randolph, Shane Supple, Kevin Foley, Lewis Emanuel, Sean St Ledger Alex Bruce, Paddy Mc Carthy, Joseph O'Cearuill, Darron Gibson, Stephen Mc Phail, Joe Gamble, Kevin Deery, Darren Potter, Stephen Hunt, Alan O'Brien, Lee Frecklington, Anthony Stokes, Andy Keogh, Roy O'Donovan, Stephen Ward, Billy Clarke.
