Five to follow: McCarthy's men with points to prove

Alan Mahon

Club: Blackburn Rovers

Age: 23

Birthplace: Dublin

Senior caps: 2.

Position: Midfield.

Hard to believe he's only 23 considering he's already had a lengthy spell with Tranmere Rovers (120 appearances) and a brief sojourn in Lisbon with Sporting.

After opting for a move to Portuguese football on a Bosman transfer at the end of the season before last Mahon was brought back to English football by Graeme Souness, on loan at first before signing him on a permanent deal this summer for £1.5 million.

This season will be the left-sided midfielder's first in the Premiership and a chance to showcase that combination of graft and guile that caught Souness's eye in the first place and to make himself a permanent fixture in Mick McCarthy's squad.

Watch out for his goal celebrations - they're an imitation of the way his Da dances at weddings. You have been warned.

Andy O'Brien

Club: Newcastle United

Age: 22

Birthplace: Harrogate

Senior caps: two

Position: Central defender

He's hardly been a wet week at Newcastle, since his transfer there from Bradford City last season, but he's already a legend in the eyes of the Toon Army thanks to his late equaliser in his fourth game for the club against Sunderland in the north-east derby at St James' Park. He could do no wrong after that.

About to start his fifth season in English football (he made his debut for Bradford when he was 17) O'Brien could yet find himself a serious contender for a place in the Republic's starting line-up if his impressively composed displays in the Newcastle defence were anything to go by last season.

A former England under-18 and under-21 international O'Brien, whose grandparents hail from Kilfinnane in Limerick, declared for the Republic two years ago. Moved to Newcastle, he said, so that he could further his international ambitions. Might just do that in months ahead.

Stephen McPhail Club: Leeds United

Age: 22

Birthplace: London

Senior caps: four

Position: Midfield

Another Irish player in Britain whose qualities have been well documented but after the injury nightmare that was last season he must feel like he's starting all over again in the new campaign.

The former Home Farm schoolboy and Leeds' 'Young Player of the Year' in 1997 has possession of an exquisitely cultured left foot, one he put to fine use when he established himself in the Leeds' first team the season before last.

Such was his impact then he is likely to reclaim his place in David O'Leary's side this season and should, at least, make himself a regular in the Irish squad - maybe even in the starting line-up to the left of Roy Keane and Mark Kinsella. An injury-free season permitting McPhail is the Republic's brightest short-term hope of finding a midfielder with craft and vision.

John O'Shea

Club: Manchester United

Age: 20

Birthplace: Waterford

Senior caps: one

Position: Central defender

Manchester United's fruitless search for a defender or two of international quality during the summer could yet prove to be good news for O'Shea as he attempts to get his first-team chance at Old Trafford. His best hope of a breakthrough, perhaps, is if Alex Ferguson finally concedes that Gary Neville is not a centre half and if Ronnie Johnsen continues to struggle with injuries - O'Shea would then find himself moving near the top of the 'stand-by' list for the Jaap Stam/Wes Brown pairing, and a fixture-packed season ahead could yet see him get his chance to prove his worth.

Alternatively he might soon conclude that a move is his best hope of regular first team football, one that would give him the opportunity to prove to Mick McCarthy that he's a genuine challenger to Breen, Dunne and Co for a place at the heart of the Irish defence. Either way it's likely to prove to be a crucial season.

Damien Delaney

Club: Leicester City

Age: 20

Birthplace: Cork

Senior caps: none

Position: Midfield (left), left-back.

Delaney joined Leicester from Cork City in November of last year on the recommendation of the English club's 'head of recruitment', former Cork manager Colin Murphy. Within two months he had made his first team debut and was receiving glowing praise from Leicester boss Peter Taylor who gave him six more run-outs before the season's end.

The left-footer, a Cork minor Gaelic footballer in his time, can play wide in defence or midfield and at six feet three inches looks more than capable of surviving the physical stresses of life in the English Premiership, despite being burdened with the nickname 'Carebear'. Lists Roy Keane as his sporting hero and came up against him in only his second Premiership start when Leicester visited Old Trafford. Might have to content himself with a sprinkling of first team appearances this season but should get enough opportunities to confirm his potential.