Giovanni Trapattoni has named an experimental side for tonight’s closed-door friendly tie against an Airtricity league select under-23 team, which Paul McShane is set to captain.
Most of Ireland’s top stars, including Richard Dunne, Stephen Kelly, Kevin Kilbane, Sean St Ledger, Aiden McGeady, Damien Duff, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane, have been given permission to join up with the squad next Sunday.
Most will be expected to feature in Ireland’s subsequent friendlies against Paraguay and Algeria.
McShane is set to start at right full with either Eddie Nolan or Greg Cunningham set to feature on the left. Leon Best and Cillian Sheridan will be given the chance to impress up front while the midfield will be made up of Liam Lawrence, Paul Green, Keith Fahey and Shane Long.
Shane Duffy, the Everton player who has been at the centre of a tug-of-war between the Republic and Northern Ireland, is set to start to partner Celtic’s Darren O’Dea at centre-half.
