Martin O'Neill has announced Ireland's starting XI ahead of this evening's penultimate World Cup qualifier against Moldova.
Although little will be taken for granted against Group D's bottom side, Ireland will expect to secure a positive result tonight.
Wes Hoolahan starts in a side captained by David Meyler.
The team in full is:
Randolph; Christie, Clark, Duffy, Ward; Meyler, O'Dowda, Hendrick, Hoolahan; Murphy, Long
BREAKING: David Meyler captains Ireland as Martin O'Neill names his starting team to face Moldova! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/DjtRsBFPHz
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 6, 2017
The subs are as follows:
Doyle (GK), Elliot (GK), O'Shea, Keogh, Whelan, McGeady, O'Kane, Maguire, Hourihane, Hogan, K. Long, Arter
A 3-1 win in Chișinău just under a year ago had consolidated what was a strong start to the qualifying campaign for Ireland.
Preceding a notable victory away to Austria, tonight's tie may well have been seen as a means to consolidate Ireland's hold on the group from that vantage point.
However, with only 3 points taken from 4 games since, guaranteeing even a World Cup playoff is no longer in exclusively in Ireland's hands.
While we will ultimately require favourable results elsewhere whatever the result tonight, three more points are essential looking ahead to the game in Cardiff on Monday night.
