Duff fitness boost for Republic

WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v FRANCE
First leg: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 November Kick-off: 1900 GMT Second leg: Stade de France, Paris Date: Wednesday, 18 November Kick-off: 1900 GMT Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Sport website

Damien Duff looks set to play for the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-off with France after recovering from an Achilles injury.

Duff returned to action for Fulham in Sunday's Premier League match against Wigan Athletic.

Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Abou Diaby will not be fit to play for France in the two legs.

Diaby came off after 23 minutes in Arsenal's 4-1 win over Wolves on Saturday because of a calf injury.

Bohemians keeper Brian Murphy has been called into the squad after Kieren Westwood withdrew because of injury.

Uncapped Murphy and Scunthorpe's Joe Murphy will provide back up to Shay Given, who is in line to win his 101st cap against France at Croke Park next Saturday.

Giovanni Trapattoni's men will then travel to Paris for the return leg at the Stade de France on Wednesday 18 November with a place at next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa at stake.

606: DEBATE

" Would have preferred to wait until the campaign was finished before offering Trap a new contract "

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is without fringe strikers Noel Hunt and Caleb Folan but the Italian's other regulars all appear to be fit going into this weekend.

France will be without injured Gael Clichy and Franck Ribery while Patrick Vieira has been left out of the squad.

France coach Raymond Domenech has called up Lyon defender Aly Cissokho but Vieira remains out of favour.

With left back Gael Clichy ruled out with a back injury, Domenech needs cover and he watched Cissokho play in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Veteran Vieira has been blighted by nagging injuries and has rarely played for Inter Milan over the past two seasons.

Full-back Clichy has a back injury while Bayern Munich star Ribery is ruled out by a knee injury.

Republic of Ireland squad: Given (Man City), Murphy (Bohemians), Murphy (Scunthorpe), O'Shea (Man Utd), Dunne (Villa), Kelly (Fulham), Kilbane (Hull), Nolan (Preston), St Ledger (Middlesbrough), McShane (Hull), O'Dea (Reading), McGeady (Celtic), Duff (Fulham), Gibson (Man Utd), Whelan (Stoke), Andrews (Blackburn), Miller (Hibernian), Hunt (Hull), Keogh (Wolves), Lawrence (Stoke), Doyle (Wolves), Keane (Tottenham), Long (Reading), Best (Coventry), Stokes (Hibernian).

France squad: Carrasso (Bordeaux), Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille), Abidal (Barcelona), Cissokho (Lyon), Escude (Sevilla), Evra (Manchester United), Fanni (Rennes), Gallas (Arsenal), Sagna (Arsenal), Squillaci (Sevilla), Diaby (Arsenal), Diarra (Bordeaux), Diarra (Real Madrid), Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Toulalan (Lyon), Malouda (Chelsea), Sissoko (Toulouse), Govou (Lyon), Anelka (Chelsea), Benzema (Real Madrid), Gignac (Toulouse), Henry (Barcelona), Remy (Nice)

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Football Association of Ireland
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