Future looks healthy for Irish football, says Rudd Dokter

With an ageing squad Ireland have so far negotiated a strong path towards Russia but the man responsible for harnessing the next generation, Ruud Dokter, is confident there’s sufficient talent to fill the gaps in the next campaign.

For Wes Hoolahan, Jon Walters, Glenn Whelan and John O’Shea, this World Cup tilt will be their last in a green jersey and others will be on the way to joining them in international retirement when the qualification series for the 2020 Euros kicks off in just over a year.

That imminent time-bomb is hardly surprising given Martin O’Neill’s squad was on average the oldest amongst the 24 nations in France last year at the ripe age of 29.