Deciding who to play at right-back in the upcoming Euro 2020 Qualifiers is one of the major decisions Mick McCarthy will have to make in his first two games back in charge of the Republic of Ireland.
McCarthy's side play away to Gibraltar on March 23rd and then at home to Georgia on March 26th.
Matt Doherty's stellar form for Wolves means there are doubts about Seamus Coleman's place in the Ireland team. Coleman's performances have taken a dip for Everton this season.
On Wednesday, at the launch of Club Ireland, the FAI's three, five and ten-year premium level ticket packages, McCarthy was asked if both Doherty and Coleman could play in the same Ireland team.
"Only if I play two right-backs," was the manager's response.
McCarthy sees Doherty as a fullback and not someone who could play further up in the pitch in his team.
He’s been fantastic playing for Wolves - playing as a wing-back, admittedly.
He’s been a real goal threat as well, scored goals. He’s had lots of chances. He’s playing in a good team, a vibrant Wolves team who play some really good football. He’s done very, very well. I mean, I signed him for Wolves for £100,000 from Bohs.
The best thing that happened to him was Wolves getting relegated [to League One]. He was in the team that got promoted and then promoted again. He’s a Premier League fixture now, and a good player.
I see him as a fullback. I also don’t dismiss it that if you’re playing in Copenhagen against Denmark, you have to be a little bit more solid but still have that ability to play forward and toughen up a little bit.
Who knows? I don’t rule out anything, except playing him in nets, maybe.
Specifically, McCarthy sees Doherty as a right-back. Though, the Dubliner was named 2015/16 Wolves Player of the Season playing on the left side.
"Do ya know, if I haven't got a left-back playing as well as Enda Stevens for Sheffield United - who's having a really good season, he's playing as a wing-back most of the time - [then I might consider playing Doherty there].
"He's a right-back. But would I rule him out if I didn't have a left-back if something went wrong, no I wouldn't. He had a really good season there, he did very well."
Regarding who will captain Ireland, McCarthy says that he has not made a decision yet. Though, if Coleman does start for Ireland, it's likely that he will continue to wear the armband.
"I haven't had a team yet so I haven't got a captain as of yet. I think he's a good captain [Coleman], I think he's a really good role model as a footballer, how he's gotten to where he is and stayed where he is, how he conducts himself, how he trains, his professionalism.
"If I am picking one [a captain], which I haven't yet, there wouldn't be any reason why I wouldn't pick him as a captain."
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) launched its new 3, 5 & 10-year Premium Level tickets - “Club Ireland” - ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s EURO 2020 qualifying campaign kicking off next month with Georgia coming to Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, March 26th.
Priced at €5,000 for a 10-year ticket and with 5 home international games guaranteed each year, the FAI believe they represent the most keenly priced Premium Level season ticket in Irish sport.
The new Ireland management team, Mick McCarthy, Terry Connor & Robbie Keane, were at Aviva Stadium along with FAI CEO John Delaney and former Ireland Internationals and Club Ireland Ambassadors Richard Dunne and Karen Duggan to officially launch the new and improved Club Ireland membership.
Membership of Club Ireland is on sale from today (Wednesday, February 27th) and can be purchased VIA: fai.ie/clubireland; by emailing Club Ireland [email protected] by calling 01 899 9547.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
