Hornet Hoban so proud to wear the green

While some Englishmen who declared for Ireland over the years may have openly admitted to having tenuous links to their ancestral home, there can be no questioning the agenda of Under-19 captain Tommie Hoban.

“My mother was born in Dublin and my Dad’s parents are from Westport in Mayo and Limerick. So, all four of my grandparents are Irish,” said the Watford defender, who has played the last three Championship games for Gianfranco Zola’s side.

“Two years ago I came into the under 17 squad for the first time as the new boy in the camp. Now, I’m realising a dream by captaining Ireland.”

Skippering his side to next July’s UEFA finals in Lithuania is his ultimate aim, something only possible to embark on by claiming one of the top two places in the four-nation group.

With Germany to come in their last game next Tuesday, Ireland will seek to secure their passage with a game to spare by winning today’s contest in Luxembourg and the follow-up on Saturday against Macedonia.

Without Spurs winger Kenny McEvoy out due to injury, Doolin will instead unleash Aston Villa duo Mikey Drennan and Jack Grealish on the hosts from the flanks.

IRELAND U19 (probable): Lawlor (Man City); B. Lenihan (Cork City), Sweeney (Reading), Hoban (Watford) — capt, Garmston (WBA); Drennan (Aston Villa), Gallagher (Burnley), Coombes (St Pat’s Ath), Grealish (Aston Villa); Wilkinson (Millwall), Byrne (Man Utd).