Robson ready for Bellamy to test out knee

With nothing less than victory required to take Newcastle United into the second stage of the Champions' League for the first time, Sir Bobby Robson is prepared to risk Craig Bellamy against Feyenoord tomorrow night.

The Newcastle striker, suspended from three Champions' League matches after headbutting Dynamo Kiev's Tiberiu Ghioane in the opening fixture, has been troubled by a persistent knee injury since February. "He looked sharp and busy today and without any knee problems," Robson said of a striker who was treated by the world-renowned ligament specialist Richard Steadman in Colorado less than 10 days previously.

Robson has also moved to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeping position. Since last month's 5-2 defeat at Blackburn, Shay Given has stood down for Champions' League and Worthington Cup fixtures in favour of Steve Harper while keeping his place for Premiership matches, a move the Ireland international has publicly criticised. Although Harper performed well in victories over Juventus and Dynamo Kiev, it is understood Given will return for tomorrow.

The Wimbledon striker David Connolly has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to play Greece in a friendly next Wednesday, despite scoring four goals in Saturday's 5-3 win away to Bradford City. Don Givens, who will be in charge for one match following Mick McCarthy's resignation, has preferred Graham Barrett, the 21-year-old Dubliner currently at Brighton on loan from Arsenal.

The Football Association of Ireland hopes to have a new manager in place for a friendly away to Scotland in February. Kenny Dalglish is believed to have been one of the names under consideration.

The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told Roy Keane to remain silent on his international future. McCarthy's departure has prompted speculation that Keane might return to the fold.

"I think for Roy's sake, the least he says about it the better because it is going to be another agenda for everyone in Ireland," Ferguson said. "At the moment he is not even back for us and that is the first step."

Keane, who is recovering from a hip operation and is not expected to play for at least another four weeks, has echoed those thoughts by claiming that first he must concentrate on a return to action for "the people who pay my wages".

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD (v Greece, Athens, 20 Nov): Given (Newcastle), Kiely (Charlton), Colgan (Hibernian), Kelly (Leeds), Carr (Tottenham), Finnan (Fulham), Harte (Leeds), Breen (West Ham), Cunningham (Birmingham), O'Shea (Man Utd), Dunne (Man City), O'Brien (Newcastle), Doherty (Tottenham), Holland (Ipswich), Healy (Celtic), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Carsley (Everton), Delap (Southampton), McPhail (Leeds), Kilbane (Sunderland), Kennedy (Wolves), Duff (Blackburn), Keane (Tottenham), Morrison (Birmingham), Barrett (Brighton).