Soccer:Seán St Ledger has lost his fitness race ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier with Macedonia on Saturday and will be replaced by Darren O'Dea in the Republic of Ireland's starting line-up.
The first choice centre back picked up a knock in a collision with Ciaran Clarke in training during the week and is therefore unavailable to partner Richard Dunne in defence. As expected, Kevin Kilbane returns to left back ahead of Clarke, while Kevin Foley is set to feature on the right side of defence.
In midfield, Darron Gibson will partner Glenn Whelan, with Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady providing the width and captain Robbie Keane up front with strike partner Kevin Doyle.
All in all, it makes for a fairly makeshift defence ahead of what is, even at this early stage of the campaign, a must-win game.
In the absence of the injured Shay Given, Coventry City’s talented but inexperienced goalkeeper Keiren Westwood will join O'Dea and Foley in making his first competitive start. It will be his sixth cap, O’Dea’s fifth and Foley’s fourth.
It is, perhaps, understandable the manager did not retain Clarke at left back, where he debuted against Wales last month, so as to avoid a scenario where four of the starting back five would have just 13 caps between them.
The versatile English-born defender is no stranger to the centre and has the added advantage of playing alongside Dunne at Aston Villa, but the Dubliner and Kilbane (108 caps) have 172 appearances in the green jersey.
There's plenty of know how further forward, too, where Duff and Keane have both recovered well from injury to take their places. The captain will lead his country for a record-equalling 40th time, a benchmark set by Andy Townsend.
Gibson is not a regular starter but his wonderful strike against Wales appears to have convinced Giovanni Trapattoni that the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to the Manchester United player.
Explaining his preference for the Derry man ahead of Paul Green, the manager suggested as much, saying he expected Gibson and fellow midfielder Aiden McGeady to offer more of a goal threat from long range.
“I have seen many of Macedonia’s games and usually away from home, they play very deep,” said Trapattoni.
“I have told Gibson to get on the ball and when he is on the ball, to shoot. The way they play, it is better for Gibson, who can control the ball quickly and shoot.
“Against opponents who are more technical and creative, Paul Green may be more suited because he is very aggressive. But in this game, we will have a lot of space until we get to the edge of the box, and I have told Gibson and Aiden McGeady as well to shoot whenever they can.
“It will be very difficult to work our way into the box, and shooting from outside the box is a good option for us. That is the reason why Gibson and not Paul Green is starting.”
Trapattoni has confirmed Wigan midfielder James McCarthy will be involved at some point, ensuring an end to the debate over where the allegiances of the Scottish-born player lie. Jon Walters, meanwhile, will not join up with the squad until after the game following the birth of his third child.
Ireland are second in Group B, three points ahead of Macedonia after four games, and joint second with Slovakia and Armenia, meaning anything but a win could prove very costly.
Rep of Ireland (v Macedonia):Westwood; Foley, O'Dea, Dunne, Kilbane; Duff, Whelan, Gibson, McGeady; Keane, Doyle
