Away form gives King confidence

Ireland U21 manager Noel King has cited his squad’s stellar away form as reason to be confident heading into today’s Uefa Championship qualifier in Montenegro (5pm).

Level on seven points with Ireland in joint-second behind trailblazers Germany, Montenegro need only to avoid defeat if they’re to put the destiny of King’s side in the chase for a play-off spot beyond their own control. That’s because they’ve played a game less than King’s charges.

Recent form by the hosts, including Friday’s 1-1 draw against Germany, suggests Ireland’s defenders are in for a hectic assignment at the same Podgorica City Stadium where the Germans struggled.

Having opened their campaign with a 4-1 win away to the Faroe Islands, Ireland produced another gritty display on the road last month to hold Romania scoreless.

Most of the players, too, were part of the squad that hammered Italy 4-2 on foreign soil just over a year ago. In May, they showed their battling traits again in an away stalemate against Denmark.

“Our away record is fantastic and that will be tested against an excellent Montenegro side,” said King.

Either John Egan or Charles Dunne will fill the right-back slot in place of Anthony O’Connor after the Corkman withdrew at the weekend with an injury. Watford striker Connor Smith returns from suspension.

REP OF IRELAND (probable): S McDermott (Sandnes Ulf); C Dunne (Wycombe Wanderers) S Duffy (Yeovil Town), D Williams (Bristol City), S McGinty (Sheffield Utd); C Reilly (Birmingham City), S Carruthers (MK Dons); A Forde (Wolves), S Murray (Watford), J Grealish (Notts County); A O’Brien (Millwall).