Speaking at the Republic's first press conference of the week earlier today, Kavanagh expressed his 'surprise' at being recalled to the Irish set-up after years out in the wilderness.
'It’s good to be back. I’ve been playing well for my club and I’m just delighted to be involved,' he said. 'There is normally a lot speculation in the media about who might be in the squad and I was never mentioned until this game so I thought maybe you guys (the media) knew something I didn’t,' he said before Brian Kerr added, 'They don’t!'
'I knew Brian had come to watch me a few times and I spoke to him briefly after the West Ham match and he gave nothing away so I thought my chance was gone.'
Kavanagh won the First Division player of the month award for September. On current form he probably deserves a starting place in Basel - true? Discuss it on the message boards, and consider that Charlton's Matt Holland is the only current Irish international central midfielder regularly playing to form in the Premiership.
There's six Division One players in the current Irish squad - should there be more? Or does a lack of regular club football seriously affect our Premiership stars?