In an unusual move, Mick McCarthy has named his Ireland team more than 24 hours ahead of kick off in tomorrow night's friendly against New Zealand at the Aviva.
As had already been flagged, Spurs starlet Troy Parrott will make his senior international debut, at just 17 becoming the third youngest to do so in Irish football history.
Also making his senior debut will be Celtic full-back Lee O’Connor after suspension ruled him out of the Irish U21s’ game against Armenia in Yerevan tomorrow.
The vastly more experienced Robbie Brady makes a welcome return to the starting line-up, with Mick McCarthy keen to see how the Burnley man fares before he picks his side for Monday night’s crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark.
2 International debuts!
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 13, 2019
2 First-time starters!
Here is your Ireland team for tomorrow's @ThreeIreland International Friendly against New Zealand
Tickets still available ➡️ https://t.co/sa7BcXr5yt #IRLNZL🇮🇪🇳🇿#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/cjelooLNIl
Ciaran Clark is another familiar face returning to the team after a long absence, while Jack Byrne makes a quick return to the Aviva following his FAI Cup Final triumph with Shamrock Rovers.
And there is another opportunity for Sean Maguire to kick-start his Irish career after a series of injury setbacks.
The Irish team to play New Zealand tomorrow night: Kieran O’Hara; Lee O’Connor, Kevin Long, Ciaran Clark, Derrick Williams; Josh Cullen, Alan Browne; Robbie Brady, Jack Byrne, Sean Maguire; Troy Parrott.
Mick McCarthy will send a much-changed Republic of Ireland side into friendly battle with unfamiliar foe New Zealand on Thursday night with one eye on Monday’s Euro 2020 showdown with Denmark.
McCarthy is unlikely to risk any of his big names with qualification at stake against the Danes and has already indicated that there will be several new faces in his team.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the game.
Teenage kicks
Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Troy Parrott and Lee O’Connor will make their international debuts with starting roles tomorrow for #IRLNZL🇮🇪🇳🇿
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 13, 2019
Jack Byrne will also be named in the starting team!
➡️ https://t.co/sa7BcXr5yt #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/omIqFRQN9h
Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne made an impressive senior debut in September’s friendly victory over Bulgaria and will win a second cap and a first start against the All Whites. Byrne has returned to the SSE Airtricity League after difficult spells in England at Manchester City, Wigan and Oldham and a brief period in Scotland with Kilmarnock, and his elevation represents a significant boost for the League of Ireland.
All White on the night
📺 The All Whites are back!
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) November 12, 2019
Tune in to @skysportnz on Friday morning (NZT) to cheer the lads on!#AllWhites #NovemberTour pic.twitter.com/OHDDq7Jcvi
Remarkably, New Zealand have not played a meaningful game for 525 days after a period of upheaval with the game’s governing body. However, new head coach and former Leeds defender Danny Hay has already set his sights on qualification for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, and will hope to mould a team around experienced West Ham defender Winston Reid, who is set to return from an 18-month injury lay-off in Dublin, and Burnley striker Chris Wood.