Henderson and O'Brien ruled out

Wayne Henderson will play no part in the two qualifiers

Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
Bratislava
Saturday, 8 September
Kick-off: 1930 BST
Coverage on BBC Radio 5live & the BBC Sport website.

Goalkeeper Wayne Henderson and winger Alan O'Brien have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifying games.

Steve Staunton's side face Slovakia away on Saturday before travelling on to play the Czech Republic.

Henderson has a back injury which kept him out of Preston's defeat by Coventry while O'Brien injured his ankle in Hibernian's victory over Inverness.

Shay Given is back in the squad after missing the friendly win over Denmark.

Lee Carsley returned after being left out for the Denmark game but Stephen Carr is out with a hamstring problem.

Wolves defender Kevin Foley gets his first senior call-up and Manchester United youngster Darron Gibson stays in the panel after an impressive debut.

Behind runaway leaders Germany, the runner-up spot in the group is a battle between the Czechs, the Republic and the Slovakians.

With all three teams having five matches to play, the Czechs are a point clear of Staunton's team, who are a further four ahead of Slovakia.

Republic of Ireland squad: Colgan (Barnsley), Doyle (Birmingham City), Given (Newcastle Utd), Henderson, Dunne (Man City), Finnan (Liverpool), Foley (Wolves), Kelly (Birmingham City), McShane (Sunderland), O'Shea (Man Utd), Carsley (Everton), Douglas (Leeds), Gibson (Man Utd), Hunt (Reading), Ireland (Man City), Kilbane (Wigan), McGeady (Celtic), Potter (Wolves), A Reid (Charlton), Doyle (Reading), Keane (Tottenham), Keogh (Wolves), Long (Reading), Murphy (Sunderland).