A new era of Irish football gets underway this Saturday, as new head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson prepares his Ireland team to host England in the first game of his tenure as head coach.
With England also boasting a new manager in Lee Carsley, and this marking the first competitive game between the countries since a 1-1 draw at Wembley in 1991, it will be an especially significant occasion in the Aviva Stadium.
Not to mention the presence of ex-Ireland men Declan Rice and Jack Grealish on the other side lining out in white.
And, of course, it is England of all teams.
With all of the hullabaloo surrounding the occasion, it could be easy to forget there is a football match to be contested, and England will provide a stern test for Hallgrimsson in his first game in charge.
The Icelandic coach has admitted that he is relatively unfamiliar with his squad, grateful for the presence of John O’Shea and Paddy McCarthy on his coaching team.
With the aid of his two Irish assistants, Hallgrimsson will hope to deliver a huge result on Lansdowne Road – here is the XI which we think gives him the best chance of doing just that.
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The Ireland team we want to see v England on Saturday
GK: Caoimhín Kelleher
23 March 2024; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher makes a save during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Belgium at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Until Gavin Bazunu returns to fitness and can once again battle Caoimhín Kelleher for the spot between the sticks, the Liverpool man is fairly safe in this position.
Though Kelleher did not get the move away from Anfield many had expected (and hoped for) this summer, his stock has significantly risen this year after his excellent performances during Alisson’s springtime injury layoff.
No brainer.
LB: Liam Scales
A regular for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers, Liam Scales is the best option to start at left-back, a problem position for Ireland in recent years.
The most common solutions down the left-flank of defence have been playing Matt Doherty out of position on the left, or deploying the likes of James McClean or Robbie Brady as wing-backs.
Though Brady is also a solid option in this position, Scales will provide more defensive stability for Ireland against an ominous England attack.
CB: Dara O’Shea
After a summer of rumours and courtship, Dara O’Shea finally secured his Premier League move late in the window with a transfer to Ipswich.
Though O’Shea is yet to start in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys, he remains a lock at centre-back in this Irish team. His pace will be a valuable asset against England’s quick runners in behind.
CB: Nathan Collins
A man who has been in and out of form in recent months but, on his day, is easily Ireland’s finest centre-back.
Collins has made a solid start to the season with Brentford, who sit on six points after three games in the Premier League.
It appeared for some time as though Collins would be joined by O’Shea at Brentford. Though that ultimately fell through, playing them together at the heart of defence is the natural choice for Hallgrimsson and his coaching team.
Jake O’Brien is perhaps unfortunate to miss out at the back but, with only one appearance to his name in the blue of Everton, it’s hard to justify slotting him in over either of Ireland’s established pair. Speaking of Everton…
RB: Séamus Coleman
Everton’s start to the season has been utterly woeful, there can be no denying. That being said, Séamus Coleman remains as solid and steadfast a right-back option as ever.
In truth, Matt Doherty is Coleman’s only real rival for the position, and the Ireland captain is the obvious choice. Coleman’s experience could ultimately prove vital on what is sure to be a challenging night for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side.
LM: Kasey McAteer
4 September 2024; Kasey McAteer during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Thrown right in at the deep end, we hope to see Leicester City man Kasey McAteer slot in on the left-hand-side of a midfield four.
22-year-old McAteer declared for Ireland late last month, after a back-and-forth between the Boys in Green and their opponents on Saturday for his services. Sicne being named in Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first squad, he has cameoed three times off the bench for Leicester in the Premier League, and put in an impressive performance in their EFL Cup win over Tranmere.
It would be a bold call but, with options limited in the middle of the park, McAteer could inject something fresh into the Ireland setup.
CM: Will Smallbone
A very simple call here.
Will Smallbone’s Southampton are now back playing Premier League football once more and, though they are yet to pick up a point, Smallbone has been a consistent presence in their midfield.
The 24-year-old was the best Irish midfield player in the friendlies against both Hungary and Belgium earlier this year, and is the only midfielder in the squad currently playing top-flight football. Another no-brainer.
CM: Jayson Molumby
One of the most eyebrow-raising comments in recent Irish football history was Heimir Hallgrimsson’s assertion that he was looking for a “bastard” in his Irish squad – someone to make life “uncomfortable” for opposition sides.
The unfortunate man many jumped to as fitting that bill was West Brom’s Jayson Molumby (perhaps a result of his violent altercation with a Mallorca player in pre-season).
With options limited and a bit of grit needed against a daunting England midfield, the time is right for Molumby to make his return to the team.
RM: Chiedozie Ogbene
Another man back in the Premier League courtesy of his transfer to Ipswich last week, Ogbene slotted straight into the starting lineup at Portman Road and helped Kieran McKenna’s side to their first top-flight point in over 20 years.
He has rarely if ever put in a poor shift in an Ireland jersey, and his work ethic and pace down the right flank should help to nullify the danger of England targeting veteran Séamus Coleman.
Just like Collins and Kelleher, Ogbene should be a lock in Hallgrimsson’s early Ireland teams.
CF: Sammie Szmodics
4 June 2024; Sammie Szmodics of Republic of Ireland during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
One more man unlikely to drop out of the Ireland starting XI anytime soon is yet another Ipswich star, Sammie Szmodics.
Rightly nominated for Championship Player of the Season after an outstanding 27-g0al season for Blackburn, Szmodics earned himself a Premier League move to newly-promoted Ipswich over the summer. He instantly made his mark, scoring within ten minutes of his debut at no less than the Etihad Stadium.
Szmodics should play just off the front on Saturday evening, a role in which he impressed during his appearances under John O’Shea earlier this year.
ST: Adam Idah
Normally Evan Ferguson would be likely to slot in up top but, with question marks continuing to swirl over the Brighton man’s fitness, we’re more likely to see a role for him off the bench on Saturday. Ferguson last played in March.
In his place, we’re plumping for Celtic’s Adam Idah. The Corkman returned to Celtic Park on a permanent deal, after a successful loan spell saw him help the side to a domestic double last season.
The Ireland team in full
Though Evan Ferguson and Josh Cullen are particularly noticeable absentees, there is still plenty to like about the above team.
Whichever lineup Heimir Hallgrimsson does go for, it will be a mighty achievement if he can conjure a result for Ireland against England on Saturday.
Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is at 5pm on Saturday, live on RTÉ 2.
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