The more things change, the more they stay the same; provisional squad announced

From the return of James McCarthy to the arrival of Troy Parrot, Nathan Collins, and former Cork City star Kieran Sadlier, there was much to chew on as Mick McCarthy yesterday unveiled a sprawling 40-man provisional squad for next month’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland and a friendly, also at home, against Bulgaria.

But, of course, it’s really all about the first of those two games, and it’s the importance the manager attaches to the visit of the Swiss which explains why there’s every likelihood that the headline-grabbers of the moment won’t actually get a chance to make some more at the Aviva on September 5.