O’Neill to name first squad as Ireland boss

Martin O’Neill’s stewardship of Ireland kicks into high gear over the next few days, beginning with the unveiling in Limerick this morning of his squad for the friendly game against Serbia at the Aviva Stadium on March 5.

Then, on Sunday, attention will switch to France, where O’Neill will be on hand to learn Ireland’s fate when the draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers takes place in Nice.

The significance of today’s announcement in Limerick is that it will be the first time O’Neill, with input from his assistant Roy Keane, is entirely in charge of squad selection, having previously agreed to work with players picked by Noel King — the interim manager after the departure of Giovanni Trapattoni — for his inaugural games in charge at home to Lativa and away to Poland last November.