Testing questions and limited options for Staunton

PARTLY out of choice and partly because his hand was forced by a combination of injuries and retirements, there is certainly a fresh green look to Steve Staunton's first Republic of Ireland squad, announced in Dublin on Thursday morning.

You could almost hear the sigh of relief from the top table and all around the room - at last, we could all get down to talking footballers and football.

Inevitably, the response has been generally positive, as the headlines make merry with lines about youth, fresh blood and the new wave of Irish football. Which is fair enough - a ball has not been kicked in anger yet nor even a training bib stained and, as is the case on the eve of a new season in club football, at this point all teams are equal and everything seems possible.