New faces, old problems for Stan

STEVE STAUNTON flies out to the United States this afternoon at the helm of what is increasingly resembling a ‘B’ international squad for next week’s friendly games against Ecuador and Boston.

Already decimated by injuries and withdrawals for personal reasons, Staunton was still having to reshuffle his troops almost as the plane was preparing for take-off.

“It’s such a big issue, like it was six or eight months ago,” the manager reflected after a training session featuring a host of unfamiliar faces in Malahide yesterday. “It’s very difficult at this time of year with a lot of players away but we’ve tried to call in one or two over the last 24 hours and may still bring in another before we leave.”