Dunne won’t be risked but Cox likely to play

Confirmation will only come later today when Giovanni Trapattoni names his team but, on the basis of training at Malahide yesterday, it looks like Richard Dunne will miss out and Simon Cox will start against the Faroe Islands tomorrow night.

Dunne finally made his comeback against Georgia on Monday, following which Giovanni Trapattoni said the player was “90% sure” to start against the Faroes. But, with caution the watchword, it appears the Irish management have now thought better of risking the player in a competitive game – at least from the start.

As things stand, the Irish line-up looks set to read: Forde, Coleman, O’ Shea, St Ledger, Wilson, Cox, McCarthy, Hoolahan, McGeady, Keane, Walters.