It was a simple theory, acknowledged as accurate by more or less everybody at the time. By the time Jack Charlton departed four years ago many of the Republic's most influential players were at the end of the international road or getting very close to it.

The younger players were not quite ready to take over and, so the received wisdom went, becoming the next Ireland manager was not an attractive prospect. Becoming the Ireland manager after Charlton's successor looked an altogether better bet.

However, Mick McCarthy has managed to survive the tough transition period, during which time he has lost the likes of Andy Townsend, Ray Houghton and John Aldridge. McCarthy finished this campaign knowing that the only player that departs is Tony Cascarino.

On the other hand, over the past year or so he has seen Steve Carr, Kevin Kilbane and Robbie Keane show that they have the ability to make a mark at international level. Instead of players leaving, McCarthy knows that his options will continue to broaden as some of the younger Irish players currently establishing themselves in England and Scotland come into the reckoning for the international set-up.

In most cases McCarthy will have the luxury of introducing these players gradually, but by late next year when the Republic's World Cup campaign gets underway, there are likely to be one or two new faces in the squad.

The process got started in the play-offs with Dean Kiely coming in for the injured Alan Kelly and proving himself well capable of competing with the Republic's more established goalkeepers.

From now on, McCarthy will be hoping the competition for places in every area of the pitch increases again. Here are some of the likely lads.

Clive Clarke (Stoke)

Age: 19. Position: Defence.

After a couple of years in the reserves at Stoke, Clarke broke into the first team in the run-in last season. Out of contract during the summer, he attracted a fair bit of interest from other clubs, including a few in the Premiership. The club wanted to keep him and he was anxious for first-team football, so he stayed and he has made 19 appearances in this campaign so far.

Good positionally, strong in the air and with a decent amount of pace, Clarke looks well capable of learning his trade at his current club before moving on to bigger things. He can play at centre half or left back and if he continues to progress at his present rate, he may well start attracting McCarthy's attention sooner rather than later.

Jason Gavin (Middlesbrough)

Age: 19. Position: Centre half.

Similar in many ways to Clarke, Gavin is a somewhat more polished article at this stage. He was the Republic's outstanding player at the Under-20 World Championships in Nigeria, his performances there persuading Bryan Robson that it was time to give him a run-out in the Middlesbrough first team.

Since then he has made a handful of appearances and looked comfortable on every occasion. He is an especially good tackler and a fine passer of the ball who doesn't mind carrying the ball forward when the opportunity arises. Also has the occasional crack at goal from distance. Having just moved up to under-21 level, he is ahead of Clarke but behind Richard Dunne and Andy O'Brien in the queue for the senior squad, but he may jump a place or two over the coming year.

Matt Holland (Ipswich)

Age: 25. Position: Midfield

Older than the others and having made his senior debut in somewhat unhappy circumstances in Macedonia, Holland seems certain to become a regular in McCarthy's squad from now on, possibly at the expense of Alan McLoughlin. The Ipswich midfielder has looked an outstanding buy since arriving from Bournemouth two years ago and he was the powerhouse behind the club's promotion bid last season.

A tireless runner in midfield, Holland covers an enormous amount of space, and looks equally comfortable getting back to help in defence or popping up around the opposition's box to grab a goal. With McCarthy appearing to have a good midfield partnership in Roy Keane and Mark Kinsella, Holland's opportunities may be limited, but he will certainly figure a lot more prominently as a squad player from now on.

Colin Healy (Celtic)

Age: 19. Position: Midfield.

A long-term prospect, but a very bright one. Miller made the breakthrough into the first team during his first season at Parkhead and while his opportunities have been limited this year, he will probably add to his tally of first-team appearances over the coming months.

Healy is most comfortable in central midfield, but can play out on the right or at full back, too. Very dangerous if he gets in or around the opposition's goal.

He has been one of Brian Kerr's brightest stars and if he starts to get the first-team experience that his talent merits over the next season and a half, then he is another who might make a speedy graduation from the under-21s.

Stephen McPhail (Leeds United)

Age: 19. Position: Midfield.

Hasn't quite made the breakthrough that was expected a couple of years ago, but recently the signs have been very good for the teenager. In Nigeria with the Irish under-20 team he looked a far stronger player than he had the previous summer in Cyprus and there has been a steady improvement in his work-rate.

Broke back into the first team at Leeds in mid-October and has been a fixture since. He would bring the sort of creativity to the senior Irish panel that has been missing over the last few years. It is hard, if he continues to progress, to see how he could not be involved during the World Cup campaign.

Michael Reddy (Sunderland)

Age: 19. Position: Striker.

The rate of this player's progress since arriving at Sunderland outstrips even that of Healy at Celtic, with Reddy making his first team debut at the Stadium of Light within a matter of weeks of arriving from Kilkenny City.

His raw talent was first spotted by Alfie Hale. He believes Reddy has the natural ability to become a great player. Peter Reid has described the teenager as the best prospect he has ever worked with and his faith is such that the young Irishman is expected to make his first Premiership start this afternoon when he will possibly be filling in for the injured Niall Quinn.

Gary Doherty was pushed upfield as a second-half striker and scored both equalisers as Luton salvaged a 2-2 FA Cup draw against Lincoln.