Stephen Hunt is the only surprise in the Republic of Ireland team to face Estonia in what should be a night of celebration at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s men take on the Estonians holding a 4-0 lead from Friday’s Euro 2012 playoff first leg in Tallinn, with the game surely a formality barring the miracle of miracles from an Estonia point of view.
It was always felt that Trapattoni, a huge loyalist to the regular side he has picked almost man-for-man when available throughout the campaign, would start the men who had gotten his side to the precipice of next summer’s finals in Poland and Ukraine.
However, Aiden McGeady – an ever-present to this point in the campaign – will start on the bench and not come on until the second half, so says the manager. Hunt, who won the penalty that allowed Robbie Keane to tuck away Ireland’s fourth in Tallinn, begins on the wing instead, with Damien Duff fit to start on the other flank after a slight rib scare in Tallinn.
As well as Hunt, John O’Shea and Kevin Doyle also come into the Irish side. O’Shea is over the hamstring injury that saw him miss the first leg and his timing is good as his stand-in Stephen Kelly was ruled out with a groin knock on Sunday.
Doyle partners captain Keane up front after serving a suspension in Tallinn. He takes the place of Jon Walters, who will hope for a run-out at some point after an excellent showing on his competitive debut in the first leg.
Republic of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, Duff, Whelan, Andrews, Hunt, Doyle, Keane (captain).