Even without Jon Walters and Wes Hoolahan, Ireland could have a lovely little side – if it wasn’t for all the injuries.
The team based on current form has changed dramatically yet again after another week of football but it still looks good.
Injuries, suspensions, and players being benched has seen seismic shifts in the country’s top 30 available players and it has been a decent period for those who did play.
James McCarthy scored.
Shane Long scored and assisted.
James McClean bagged an assist.
Darragh Lenihan, the national under-21 skipper impressing in Blackburn’s midfield all season, got an assist too.
And David McGoldrick is back. After a four-month lay-off, the Ipswich attacker has played three games in a row – coming on as a sub for three minutes, 25 minutes, and 45 minutes at the weekend there where he marked his return to a full half of football with an assist too.
It’s not all good though.
On top of the documented injuries to Jon Walters, Jeff Hendrick, Harry Arter, and Rob Elliot, the physio rooms in the English divisions continue to fill up with Irish players.
Keiren Westwood missed Sheffield Wednesday’s latest clash after pulling out of the warm-up sick. Even if some outlets tried to credit him with an own goal.
@SkyFootball how can keiren Westwood score when he's not even playing #badreporting 😂
— donna huxley (@wednesdaygirl) April 9, 2016
Shane Duffy missed a game through suspension but returned to guide Blackburn to a clean sheet at Wolves.
Daryl Murphy has missed three games now since the international break with a calf injury.
Anthony Pilkington was ruled out of Cardiff’s latest clash with a knee problem.
Alan Judge’s Euro 2016 dream is over after a horror tackle and just when the Brentford star had worked his way into the form-based XI for the first time this season with another man of the match display the game previous.
Video: This is the challenge which shattered Alan Judge's Euro 2016 dream https://t.co/fv8sTsdsAw
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 10, 2016
John O’Shea has been dropped by Sam Allardyce – he’s watched the last two games from the bench.
Wes Hoolahan didn’t play for Norwich this week away to Crystal Palace.
And Aiden McGeady was dropped at Wednesday before being subbed at half time in their two games last week.
Meanwhile, Glenn Whelan pulled a muscle in his back getting out of his car. That really happened. Stoke went to Anfield and lost 4-1 without him. And the Irish midfielder was never greater appreciated.
If anyone ever doubted what Glenn Whelan offered us then today should open everyone's eyes
— steve (@stokesos) April 10, 2016
Looks like my player of the year Glenn Whelan was missed today , 😘⚽️
— Regina Colclough (@regmiss) April 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/AdamJenkinson1/status/719240315778023428
Whelan keeps his place in the top 10 though but the country’s 30 best is ever-changing.
A reminder of the stipulations:
- Only league games are considered (based on the WhoScored rating each player receives).
- Stats only include Premier League and Championship performances.
- Each player’s last three league games constitutes their form rating.
- 0.5 will be deducted for each match a player misses in his own ‘Last Three Games’ period.
- To account for standard, Championship players will be rated at 80% of their form.
Here’s the team on current statistical form.
Wolves’ Matt Doherty has been solid all year at left back. He was called in for the Switzerland and Slovakia games but didn’t feature for the country. His inclusion in the form-based team frees up Robbie Brady to push forward in what is a fine front six.
Unfortunately, Judge and Elliot are no longer options for Euro 2016 but these are the best 11 Irish players at present. A debut entrance for Richard Keogh too.
