DARYL HORGAN HAS been handed a first international start for Ireland in tonight’s friendly against Mexico in New Jersey.
The Preston winger has played just once before for Ireland, coming off the bench during the friendly at the Aviva Stadium with Iceland last March.
Elsewhere, O’Neill has named an inevitably experimental side, with many of Ireland’s first-choice players unavailable for this US trip.
Callum O’Dowda also makes his first start in an Irish jersey, with his previous four appearances coming from the bench.
There is experience in the side in the form of Darren Randolph, Richard Keogh, Shane Duffy and captain for the night James McClean, while Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick, who previously played together at Ipswich, start in attack.
Meanwhile, Conor Hourihane and John Egan each earn just their second caps, while Cyrus Christie could feature in the right wing-back role if Martin O’Neill reverts to a 3-5-2 formation as had been suggested in the build-up.
Ireland team to face Mexico: Randolph, Duffy, Keogh, Egan, Christie, Hourihane, Horgan, O’Dowda, McClean, Murphy, McGoldrick.
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