It’s been a long four months.
A long four months during which Ireland fans have replayed the Denmark game over and over in their heads.
But this week brings with it new beginnings and the chance of a fresh start. Martin O’Neill has named an experimental squad for Friday evening’s friendly with Turkey.
In the grand scheme, this match matters little. If anything, though, it will offer the most revealing insight into the potential new breed. There are eight uncapped players in the squad, giving O’Neill the chance to experiment, analyse and tinker as he sees fit.
And the untested are by no means making the numbers up. Declan Rice, Matt Doherty and Enda Stevens don’t have a senior cap between them but have been playing as well as anyone at club level recently and are expected to feature prominently in Antalya.
Considering that it’s a friendly and that O’Neill is missing several of his most trusted on-field lieutenants (Robbie Brady, Stephen Ward, Darren Randolph), it’s difficult to predict his starting eleven, but we’ve given it a crack anyway.
Colin Doyle is pretty much a cert to start between the posts. Captain Seamus Coleman will make his return to right-back almost a year to the day after suffering that double leg-break against Wales. Shane Duffy will definitely get the nod at centre-half and is likely to be partnered by Declan Rice, who has impressed recently for West Ham.
With Stephen Ward not part of the squad, Dublin-born Sheffield United Enda Stevens looks the most likely candidate to fill the left-back slot.
Given his outstanding form towards the latter stages of the World Cup qualifying campaign, David Meyler is sure to start in the holding role in midfield. Jeff Hendrick should also start in the centre, while Conor Hourihane is expected to come and add creativity to the midfield in this post-Wes era. Hourihane is having a fine season with Aston Villa.
Although Sean Maguire is pushing hard for a start after a flurry of goals for Preston recently, O’Neill may stick with the more experienced Shane Long for the first-half. Maguire is expected to feature heavily though so he could replace the Saints striker at half-time. James McClean is almost guaranteed to start on the left while Matt Doherty, enjoying a stellar season with Championship-topping Wolves, looks a safe bet to be deployed on the opposite flank.
