Mark Kennedy and Phil Babb both have a future with Ireland - which is good news for the team and for the players. They will have to wait until after their court appearance in November but after that Mick McCarthy will have no problem in bringing them back into the fold.

Irish captain Roy Keane believes that they should have back in the squad now.

He said: "I'm obviously disappointed that the two lads are not back in the squad because I feel they deserve to be back. I feel they have served their punishment but that is out of my hands."

Kennedy is touched with the amount of support that he is getting from friends, the Irish camp and Manchester City.

He said: "Whatever happens I can assure everyone I have learned from this. The things that have happened have proved that people believe in me and Mick rang me recently to tell me that, form permitting, I would be included again after my court appearance. The gaffer and everyone at Maine Road have been equally supportive."