Martin O’Neill will blend the new with the old once again as he draws the curtain on the Republic of Ireland’s 2017-18 season with Saturday’s friendly against the USA.
Veteran defender John O’Shea will make his 118th and last senior appearance for his country as O’Neill takes another look at a new generation of potential internationals.
Here, Press Association Sport considers some of the talking points surrounding the game in Dublin.
The last of a generation
Decision over Declan
West Ham United teenager Declan Rice made his second senior start for the Republic of Ireland.https://t.co/1xdbNoJTKO
— #ImForever (@WestHamUtd) May 29, 2018
West Ham teenager Declan Rice has made an impressive start to his international career, winning his first cap in Turkey in March and his second against France and looking more than comfortable in distinctly ordinary team performances. He started on the left side of a defensive trio before moving into midfield in Antalya, but was asked to play in a holding role in Paris before dropping deeper later on. The wise money is on him establishing himself at the back eventually, but his calmness on the ball in midfield is something which
has otherwise been in short supply in recent games.
Possession is 9/10 of the law
Wild Rover?
