Manchester City teenager Greg Cunningham and Paul Green of Derby County (pictured) have been handed their first senior starts for Ireland in Friday night’s friendly against Algeria.
Galway lad Cunningham has been named at left back in Giovanni Trapattoni’s side to take on the World Cup finalists at the RDS.
He comes in as an indirect replacement for Paul McShane, who has left the squad, with John O’Shea moving inside to partner Sean St Ledger in the centre of defence .
There is just one more change in the starting line-up, with Green replacing Keith Andrews in central midfield.
Liam Lawrence, a scorer of one of the goals in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Paraguay, has been named in the side but is nursing an injury and Keith Fahey is on alert to take his place in the team from the start.
Ireland (v. Algeria, RDS, Friday, 7.45pm): K Westwood; S Kelly, J O’Shea, S St Ledger, G Cunninham; L Lawrence, P Green, G Whelan, D Duff; R Keane, K Doyle.
