Kilbane is relishing the role of elder statesman

AT 30 he is not exactly approaching pensionable age but in the context of a squad with so many youngsters in it, it’s no surprise that Kevin Kilbane was yesterday referred to as the elder statesman by Steve Staunton.

The manager said that the Wigan midfielder, who is two games away from joining Packie Bonner as Ireland’s fifth most capped player of all time on 80 appearances, has a vital role to play as captain of the new-look Irish team which takes on Ecuador in the Giants Stadium tonight.

Said Staunton: “Kevin is a good talker, a good leader and he has got a good way of handling himself with the other players.