Squad gets chance to shine

MICK McCARTHY pledged to give his entire squad in Helsinki a chance to play a part in tonight’s friendly against Finland in the Olympic Stadium.

This means promising young players like Thomas Butler of Sunderland, Gary Doherty (Spurs), Colin Healy (Celtic) and Stephen McPhail (Leeds) will have a chance to stake a claim for inclusion in the squad for the European Championship qualifying tie against Russia in Moscow next month.

Indications are, however, ten of the 14 players who saw action against Spain in Ireland's last match in the World Cup will start tonight.