Gary Breen will captain the Republic of Ireland for tomorrow evening’s World Cup qualifier with Andorra, providing he can recover from a slight arm injury in time.
The Coventry defender, who has worn the captain’s armband on one previous occasion, has been named in Mick McCarthy’s team announced this afternoon. But Breen has must first prove he has fully recovered from a knock picked up in training today if he is to lead the team out to Lansdowne Road.
As expected, Mark Kennedy makes his first appearance in a green jersey in nearly a year, deputising for the injured Jason McAteer on the right of midfield. In the absence of Roy Keane, Mark Kinsella and Matt Holland will patrol central midfield with Kilbane operating on the left-hand flank.
Up front Gary Doherty will partner David Connolly. With just seven international goals between them, both players will be hoping the Andorrans will be easier to break down than in Barcelona last month.
McCarthy resisted the temptation to pick Robbie Keane, currently on a yellow-card, for the game. If Keane, who should be named as a substitute, picks up another yellow he would be ruled out of the crucial qualifier against Portugal at the beginning of June.
Starting XI:
Given
Harte
Kelly
Dunne
Breen (Capt)
Kinsella
Holland
Kilbane
Kennedy
Doherty
Connolly
Subs to be named