Former Republic of Ireland international Wes Hoolahan is wanted by League One outfits Oxford United and Fleetwood Town.

At least we know that the Aviva crowd will definitely have something to cheer about tonight. With the friendly against the USA doubling as a John O’Shea tribute gig, the feelgood factor is already in place.

The tears keep on flowing as Wes Hoolahan pays an emotional goodbye to Norwich City.

Emotional, fantastic, amazing. Those were some of the words Wes Hoolahan used as he reflected on his last game as a Norwich player.

“People were raving afterwards about Tommy Craig. He has great skill and he is strong… When you are watching a game it looks like he’s making a great contribution. But that is on the premise that what he is doing on the ball is what it’s about at that level. And it is not. Maybe it should be. It would be nice if it were.

Although there was no great surprise in news of his retirement, already the cavity in the Ireland team created by Wes Hoolahan’s absence is being sorely mourned.

Liam Brady believes the lack of emerging talent is linked to Kerr’s absence from an active role in Irish football and that he should be brought back into the fold.

‘I thought that John and myself had agreed to stay on…but we’ll see.”

Average golfers have a saying: ‘It’s not how, it’s how many’.

Martin O’Neill has said he would be disappointed if James McClean was not feeling frustrated about his restricted game time at West Brom.

It must be the dawn of a new era when one of Ireland’s great recoveries didn’t require the deft touches of Wes Hoolahan, but this wasn’t an evening for silken skills.

Wales 0 Republic of Ireland 1: This Irish team may rarely if ever command games but they certainly provide magic moments. And sometimes, as on this incredible night in Cardiff, they’re special enough to far outlast the 90.

Ireland 2 - Moldova 0: Job done, but a lot more to do.

Shane Long suffered a frustrating evening while Daryl Murphy trebled his goal tally.

Daryl Murphy's first-half double set up an intriguing World Cup qualification trip to Wales as the Republic of Ireland eased past Moldova 2-0.

“We have to win the games and the equation is really simple,” was Martin O’Neill’s decisive summation yesterday, as he contemplated Ireland’s World Cup qualifying landscape with two group games to go.

John Giles discussed Ireland’s World Cup rescue mission with John Fallon

Robbie Savage is confused. Has been since Monday evening when he heard some bloke on Irish TV going on and on about Wes Hoolahan and how the Republic of Ireland would have beaten Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend had the Norwich City player been picked.

Beneath the crabby exterior beats the heart of an incurable and not yet completely disillusioned romantic. Despite Tbilisi, despite everything, Liam Brady thinks Ireland can win. He realises he ought to know better. He just can’t help himself.

One place off top spot in the group, highly respected Eastern European opposition in town, and a second successive qualification for a major tournament on the line. Yep, Belfast must have been rocking on Monday evening.

Ireland’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after Serbia ended the Republic’s unbeaten record last night at the Aviva to take firm control of Group D.

Check out the Republic of Ireland Player Ratings

Aleksandar Kolarov wrecked the Republic of Ireland's World Cup dream as 10-man Serbia eased themselves to the brink of qualification on a controversial night in Dublin.

Move over baby, there’s a new super Wessi fan in town.

If not always the football, then the results continue to flow in the World Cup qualifiers. writes Liam Mackey

Writing here on the eve of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Austria, I was full of confidence that we were going to win, perhaps even with a bit to spare, writes Liam Brady.

Wes Hoolahan was at his mesmeric best at the weekend, scoring twice as Norwich hammered play-off contenders Reading 7-1.

At the FAI Football Awards ceremony last Sunday, John Hartson made all the right kind of respectful noises towards his Irish hosts after being named International Personality of the Year.

Aiden McGeady often flatters to deceive but the winger had an afternoon to savour on Saturday, scoring twice in Preston’s 4-2 win over Brentford.

While his much less celebrated work off the ball is far too honest to merit ‘a luxury player’ tag — you can understand why Martin O’Neill harbours equally honest reservations about him, writes Liam Mackey.

Liam Mackey of the Irish Examiner highlights five things to take from Ireland's win over Austria.

The Ireland team to face Austria has been named ahead of their World Cup qualifier inside the hour.

Hoolahan simply makes everybody else in the Irish team play better and, because they know they can give him the ball, his mere presence takes the pressure off his team mates, writes Liam Brady.

Wes Hoolahan picked up where he left off on Saturday, following up a brilliant display in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova with another superb showing as Norwich beat Rotherham 3-1 to go top of the Championship table.

Ronald Koeman has accused Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill of mishandling James McCarthy after the Everton midfielder played all but nine minutes of last week’s victories over Georgia and Moldova.

Moldova 1 Republic of Ireland 3: In the usual manner, Ireland made this harder for themselves than was strictly necessary, not for the first time surrendering an early lead in a game, before a second half James McClean brace reasserted the visitors’ general superiority and deservedly sent them joint top on points of Group D with Serbia.

The Republic of Ireland will attempt to complete a maximum points haul from their October World Cup qualifiers when they face Moldova in Chisinau tomorrow evening.