Eager Robbie Brady relishing captain’s role

Although a number of the more senior candidates – among them John O’Shea, Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters — have left the squad to return to their clubs, it still tells you something about how important a player Robbie Brady has become for Ireland, that Martin O’Neill has nominated him as captain for the friendly game against Iceland at the Aviva tonight.

While the Dubliner described the honour as “a dream come true”, he was quick to acknowledge he would rather have been taking the armband from Seamus Coleman under much happier circumstances.

“It has been disappointing, obviously, for our captain and the lad that Seamus is,” said Brady of the serious injury sustained by Coleman on Friday night. “We knew straight away when it happened and we’ll all be there to help him through it as best we can.”