After two years in a semi-international wilderness of sorts due to injury and failure to find favour with Mick McCarthy and Kerr after a poor 2002 World Cup finals, Harte is still back in the pecking order.
"We have eight defenders in the squad, all of whom are very adaptable," said Kerr. With more than a little sneaking admiration, Kerr added: "Alan Maybury played three-and-a-half of the games during the summer and also played against Poland and the Czech Republic and did well."
"Ian remains part of my plans," he added, "but I didn’t think it was necessary to bring him all the way from Spain unless I was definitely going to play him."
Seems the Drogheda Don's move south could have more than a touch of the 'out of sight, out of mind' ring to it.