SOCCER/REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v NIGERIA:A YEAR after coming out of international retirement at the request of Giovanni Trapattoni, West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Dean Kiely would appear to have ended his Republic of Ireland career after leaving the squad yesterday upon being told he would not feature in tonight's friendly against Nigeria.

Having confirmed earlier in the week that Coventry City’s Keiren Westwood would play a part in the game at Craven Cottage, Trapattoni yesterday announced Shay Given would start the match, having recovered from a sore hip.

Kiely, who has 11 caps dating back to his debut against Turkey in 1999, three of them won under Trapattoni (in friendlies against Serbia, Colombia and Norway), responded to the news by informing the manager if he wasn’t going to feature in the game he would prefer to return home to spend time with his family.

“If he stayed with us, it would have been better, but he wished to go,” said Trapattoni. “He said he was a bit disappointed, he thought he had an opportunity. But we have other options. All the team accepts this situation, but there was some disappointment for Dean. He wanted to be with his family.

“I’m a little disappointed, but I have to respect the older players. But my job is to look forward at other situations. In the future we will see what happens.”

While Trapattoni did not rule out the possibility of the 38-year-old, who made just four appearances for West Brom this season, returning to the squad at a future date he did not appear to expect him back in time for Saturday week’s World Cup qualifier away to Bulgaria. Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United), Colin Doyle (Birmingham City) and Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe) were all mentioned by the manager as possible call-ups for the trip to Sofia to provide cover for Given and Westwood.

Meanwhile, having suggested all week he would give chances to some of his fringe players against Nigeria, Trapattoni was as good as his word, handing debuts to five players, three of them in defence: Kevin Foley (Wolves), Liam Lawrence (Stoke City), Leon Best (Coventry City) and Preston North End pair Seán St Ledger and Eddie Nolan.

Richard Dunne is the only capped defender in the team, with Liam Miller, who is without a club, starting his first international game for a year. The Corkman will partner Blackburn’s Keith Andrews in midfield, with Lawrence and Damien Duff or Aiden McGeady – who will play a half each – starting on the wings. Trapattoni won’t decide until later today which half the pair will play. In the absence of the injured Kevin Doyle and Caleb Folan, 22-year-old Best will partner Robbie Keane in attack.

“It is important to have experienced players in the team alongside the newcomers and that is what this team selection is all about,” said Trapattoni, who will make “four or five” substitutions during the game.

“Nigeria will provide us with a difficult match but we are going out to win it as always because it is important to reinforce a winning mentality. This is a big opportunity for the new players. They have been in the squad and have not played, so this is a chance for them to show what they can do.”

Ireland last met Nigeria five years ago in the Unity Cup in London, the Africans winning 3-0 against a depleted Brian Kerr-managed Irish side, only two of whom still feature in the squad (Keane and Miller).

Nigeria, who play France in St Etienne next Tuesday as part of their preparations for a World Cup qualifier against Kenya in nine days’ times, will be without most of their leading players, including Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, who is due to have surgery on a groin injury, Hoffenheim’s Chinedu Obasi (who also has a groin complaint), Joseph Yobo (Everton) and John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), who will be on FA Cup final duty tomorrow.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Shay Given (Manchester City); Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Seán St Ledger (Preston North End), Eddie Nolan (Preston North End); Damien Duff (Newcastle Utd) or Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Liam Miller (QPR), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Liam Lawrence (Stoke City); Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Leon Best (Coventry City).