Galaxy striker Robbie Keane is one of three veterans excluded by Ireland coach Giovanni Trappatoni from a squad that will play Serbia next month.

Trappatoni, who guided the Irish through qualifying for the 2012 European Championship and has kept his post despite Ireland's elimination in the group stages, also omitted goalkeeper Shay Given and defender Richard Dunne for the friendly in Belgrade.

Keane and Dunne are 32, Given is 36. Trappatoni has not ruled out summoning them for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign that starts in September but he is beginning the process of bringing younger players into important roles.

Keane logged thousands of air miles last year traveling to play for Ireland and in November completed an arduous trip to Tallinn and Dublin to play in both legs of a playoff with Estonia before returning in time for MLS Cup, which the Galaxy won, 1-0.