The Daily Star Ireland
In a significant development for Ireland’s World Cup preparations, manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has introduced fresh talent into the national team. Kasey McAteer and Jack Taylor have been named in the starting lineup for the upcoming friendly against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium. This match marks their first start for the senior team, as Hallgrímsson evaluates his squad ahead of the September qualifiers.
McAteer, a winger for Leicester City, and Taylor, a midfielder from Ipswich Town, will join a midfield anchored by Jason Knight. The formation is expected to be attack-oriented, with McAteer likely operating on the right flank and Ryan Manning on the left. Adam Idah, who had an impressive season with Celtic, will lead the attack. Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott are available on the bench, with Parrott’s participation uncertain due to a recent illness.
The defense will feature Nathan Collins as captain, partnered by Dara O’Shea in central defense. Matt Doherty and Robbie Brady are set to play as right and left backs, respectively. Caoimhín Kelleher will start in goal, continuing his role from previous matches.
This friendly against Senegal is part of Ireland’s strategy to build momentum and assess player combinations ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. The match also provides an opportunity to test the team’s depth and adaptability against a strong opponent.The Republic of Ireland’s starting XI for the match is as follows:
- Caoimhín Kelleher (Goalkeeper)
- Matt Doherty (Right Back)
- Nathan Collins (Center Back, Captain)
- Dara O’Shea (Center Back)
- Robbie Brady (Left Back)
- Jason Knight (Midfield)
- Jack Taylor (Midfield)
- Will Smallbone (Midfield)
- Kasey McAteer (Right Wing)
- Ryan Manning (Left Wing)
- Adam Idah (Striker)
The match against Senegal is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 PM local time. It serves as a crucial test for the team as they fine-tune their tactics and build cohesion ahead of competitive fixtures.
