Mick McCarthy said today his approach to Wednesday’s international friendly with Denmark will be exactly the same as that against Russia last month.
"I’ll certainly start with a strong team with only one or two getting a run out so I can have a look at them and then, probably at half-time, I’ll make another batch of substitutions. As against Russia I’ll make most of the substitutions in one go since I don’t like this stop-start thing of making one change every five minutes."
Definitely ruled out of the game are Roy Keane, Kevin Kilbane, Mark Kennedy, Lee Carsley and Andy O’Brien. Gary Breen, however, though he didn’t play in Coventry’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham yesterday, is fit and available for selection.
Also returning to the fold is Mark Kinsella. The Charlton midfielder has only started nine games for his club this season and despite resuming training six weeks ago after a hernia operation has yet to regain his starting place in the Charlton line-up. However, Kinsella’s lack of first team football is not a cause of worry for McCarthy.
"In a selfish sort of way it suits me that Kins hasn’t played so much this season since it means he will be nice and fresh for the World Cup. He could do with a top level match though and has every chance of starting on Wednesday."
Another man who is very much in the frame for Wednesday is Ireland’s rising star Damien Duff. Such has been Duff’s impact since being converted from winger to striker for his country, McCarthy is reluctant to switch him back to the left hand side of midfield despite the absences of Kilbane and Kennedy.
"If I wanted to preserve the natural balance then Duffer is the obvious choice for left midfield but I like what he does up front so I may just use another option. Stephen Reid for example has played well there before."
McCarthy emphasised once again that the players "who got us to the World Cup are in pole position for the 23 places in the final squad." However, he did not exclude the possibility of there being one or two surprises.
"What’s important is that I know that whoever I call will have no hesitation in jumping on that plane."
The Irish manager said the squad that travels with him for Niall Quinn’s charity benefit match in Sunderland on May 14th will, bar injury, be the one that goes to Japan.