Full-back Paul McShane will captain an experimental Republic of Ireland side against the under-23s at Malahide’s Gannon Park tomorrow. The Hull City defender will play on the right side of defence, with Celtic’s Darren O’Dea and Everton’s Shane Duffy forming the central partnership.
Either Eddie Nolan or Greg Cunningham will play on the left, while Coventry City’s Keiren Westwood is selected in goal.
Birmingham City’s Keith Fahey joins fellownewcomer Paul Green of Derby County in the centre of midfield, with Liam Lawrence and Shane Long on the right and left respectively.
Up front, Leon Best is paired with Celtic’s Cillian Sheridan, who was a late call-up to the side after Giovanni Trapattoni lost David Meyler, Darron Gibson and Caleb Folan to injury.
Preston’s Keith Treacy has returned to his club for treatment on a hernia problem, while both Portsmouth’s Marc Wilson and Wigan’s James McCarthy are expected to join up with the squad after they receive treatment for minor injuries at their clubs.
Trapattoni gave some his frontline players a rest after a long season, but they are due to link up with the squad next Sunday, ahead of friendlies against Paraguay and Algeria. In the meantime, he must make do with what's left after late witdrawals.
"I wanted to organise this camp to have the opportunity to see some new players," said the Italian today.
"Some players have ended their seasons with muscular problems.
"It is a pity about the bad injury to Meyler, I want to say to him good luck for the future.
"It's a pity because it's an occasion to prepare the team to experiment or look at new opportunities. When we start the next qualification campaign we have not got much time to prepare or to have the opportunity."
Trapattoni will send another side out against either Charlton or the Irish amateur team on Friday night.
Under-23 manager Paul Doolin has lost Paul Byrne and Galway's Seamus Conneely to injury, meaning call ups for Dundalk's Shaun Kelly and Vinny Faherty of St Patrick's Athletic.
Republic of Ireland:Westwood, McShane, O'Dea, Duffy, Nolan/Cunningham, Lawrence, Fahey, Green, Long, Sheridan, Best.