This is probably the strongest team available to Ireland at the moment.
The Republic of Ireland take on Wales in Cardiff on Thursday in their opening game of the new Uefa Nations League tournament. The build-up has been dominated by the Irish players who are not part of Martin O’Neill’s squad.
Declan Rice hasn’t been included as he deliberates over his international future amid interest from England. Harry Arter has decided to step away from the Ireland team for the immediate future after reports of a bust-up with assistant manager Roy Keane.
Several players also miss-out after picking up injuries.
Martin O’Neill doesn’t deny worrying reason for Harry Arter absence
Shane Long was forced-off with an injury in Southampton’s game on Saturday and didn’t meet up with the Ireland squad. Robbie Brady is recovering from an ankle injury and James McClean suffered a wrist injury in Ireland training on Tuesday.
O’Neill doesn’t have a lot of options available to him for Thursday’s game, but here’s the team we think Ireland should select for the match. We have opted for a 3-5-2 formation.
In goal, Darren Randolph starts.
The Bray-native has cemented his status as Ireland’s number one goalkeeper over the past few years. Randolph is also in excellent form for Middlesbrough, who are joint-top of the Championship with Leeds United after six games of the season.
He has kept five clean sheets and hasn’t conceded a goal since two went past him in the opening game of the new campaign.
Ireland’s choice at right-back is equally straight-forward. Seamus Coleman will start and captain the team in Cardiff. He has played every minute of Everton’s games in the Premier League this season and looks to have fully recovered from his horrific leg-break in March 2016.
In central defence, Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy should start. The pair have played together several times for Ireland and have formed a solid partnership.
Duffy is also arguably Ireland’s main goal threat. If Ireland were to play a back-three, Kevin Long could come into the team.
Stephen Ward will most likely start at left-back. The Burnley defender has played in three Premier League games this season and four Europa League ties. He’s a favourite of Sean Dyche and has improved defensively under the Burnley manager. Ward has also been Ireland’s first-choice left-back since O’Neill decided to move Brady into midfield.
However, Matt Doherty, who is playing as a right wing-back for Wolves, is another option if Ireland were to play with a back-three and use wing-backs. O’Neill has tried using a back-three with McClean as a left wing-back in friendlies and it hasn’t yet clicked. Doherty has impressed for Wolves and might be worth a shot on the left for Ireland.
In midfield, there don’t appear to be as many options. A couple of months ago, it looked like Rice, and possibly Arter, were certainties to start. For this midfield, we’ve selected Jeff Hendrick, Alan Browne and David Meyler.
Hendrick has been starting for Burnley and has always played for Ireland under O’Neill when fit. Meyler appears to be Ireland’s best choice to screen the defence. Browne has started the season in good form for Preston, with two goals in five games.
He gets the nod ahead of Conor Hourihane, who has found playing time hard to come by at Aston Villa.
Jonathan Walters will start up front. The 34-year-old is on-loan at Ipswich Town from Burnley. Although he is in the autumn of his career, Walters could still have a role to play for the national team. Deployed as a target man, Walters can, hopefully, bring others into play.
Walters played with distinction as a wide-forward on Ireland’s right-hand side when the country qualified for Euro 2016. He may no be able to perform that role now, but he can still play a part as an old-school target man.
McClean was in originally in our team to play against Wales, starting up-front alongside Walters. However, the Stoke winger injured his wrist in training on Tuesday and won’t play any part in the game.
So, we’ve opted to select Graham Burke in this team. The other forwards in O’Neill’s squad, Callum Robinson and Aiden O’Brien, have yet to earn a full cap at senior level.
Burke played well in his appearances against France and the United States earlier this year. He scored against the USA and has two goals in four games for Preston since joining the club from Shamrock Rovers over the summer.
Here’s the team we think should play Thursday’s match:
