Ireland are set to take an inexperienced squad to the US to take on Mexico next week.
Martin O'Neill's side play the Mexicans at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 1st.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, assistant manager Roy Keane said that 17 of the players who had been part of the Ireland training squad at Fota Island this week will make up the bulk of those travelling.
Keane, quoted by the Irish Times, added that James McClean along with three keepers will also travel to the US.
We’ll be bringing the lads who were here the last few days (and) the three keepers will be joining up with us for the weekend as will James McClean. It’s part of the preparation, we just hope they do well.
We want them to give the manager a headache for Uruguay but, more importantly, the Austria match
Cork City goalkeepers Mark McNulty and Alan Smith were part of the training group this week but have since returned to their clubs. Three of Colin Doyle, Rob Elliot, Keiren Westwood and Darren Randolph will likely be part of the squad.
New caps set to make the trip include Kevin Long, Declan Rice and Alan Browne, while Colin Doyle, Andy Boyle, John Egan, Conor Hourihane and Daryl Horgan all have just one cap each.
The Ireland squad to play Mexico should look something like this:
Goalkeepers: Three from... Colin Doyle (Bradford City), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie, Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Andy Boyle (Preston North End), Kevin Long (Burnley), Declan Rice (West Ham United), John Egan (Brentford)
Midfielders: Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (West Brom)
Forwards: David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle United)
Along with the game against Mexico, Ireland play Uruguay at the Aviva on June 4th and then Austria in a World Cup qualifier, again in Dublin, on June 11th.
Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
