MARTIN O’NEILL HAS once again sprung a few surprises with this team line-up for Ireland’s crunch Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland in Dublin this evening (5pm).
The Derry man has stuck with the same goalkeeper and back four which started in the last competitive game, a 1-1 draw against Poland in March, while James McCarthy and Glenn Whelan are named in midfield as expected.
Aiden McGeady emerged as a doubt yesterday after missing training with a hamstring problem and the Everton winger does not start, with Jeff Hendrick, Wes Hoolahan and Jon Walters all getting the nod.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy is preferred to Shane Long and Robbie Keane up front.
IRELAND: Given; Coleman, O’Shea (c), Wilson, Brady; Whelan, McCarthy; Hendrick, Hoolahan, Walters; Murphy.
SCOTLAND: Marshall, Hutton, Forsyth, Martin, Mulgrew, Maloney, Morrison, Brown (c), S Fletcher, Naismith, Ritchie.