Stephen Kenny has named his Republic of Ireland team to take on Belgium at the Aviva Stadium this evening, with...
Caoimhín Kelleher has been handed a second start for his country in goals. The Liverpool man is set to get an extended opportunity to impress during this window with both Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers ruled out due to injury.
Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, and John Egan will make the three-man defence, with Matt Doherty and James McClean operating at wingback.
In midfield, Jeff Hendrick will partner Josh Cullen, with the Anderlecht man now one of the first names on the team sheet under Kenny. He has played the full 90 minutes in all but one of the club's league fixtures this season.
Up front, Callum Robinson will be partnered by Chiedozie Ogbene and Jason Knight.
Here is the team in full.
STARTING XI | Ireland v Belgium
Robinson, Ogbene & Knight all start as Seamus Coleman captains the side for the FAI Centenary match at the @AVIVAStadium 👏
Caoimhin Kelleher starts in goal 👐#COYBIG | #WeAreOne | #WeAre100 pic.twitter.com/NuiQBUM0ZU— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 26, 2022
Belgium travel to Dublin as the world's number one ranked side, although this will be a very difference team to what we normally see from them. Manager Roberto Martinez has opted to leave any players with more than 50 caps out of the squad in order to get a look at his fringe players ahead of the World Cup later this year.
The fixture will also see Anthony Barry return to Ireland, with the coach leaving Stephen Kenny's backroom team in order to take up a role with the Belgians.
A good performance in this fixture will be key to cementing the progress made under the Kenny towards the end of 2021, with Ireland having lost only one of their last one of their last ten games. It will also offer the opportunity to fine tune the squad ahead of the UEFA Nations League later this year, a competition that offers the chance to secure a good seeding for the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
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