Doyle earns cash windfall for dad

Kevin Doyle will tonight win his first competitive cap for the Republic of Ireland – netting his dad a €15,000 windfall.

Paddy Doyle placed a bet two years ago, while his son was playing as a winger for Cork City, that Kevin would one day make an appearance in a competitive international for Ireland.

After three friendly appearances, Doyle will start alongside captain Robbie Keane in attack for the opening Group D European Championship qualifier against Germany in Stuttgart.

Following a 4-0 hammering by Holland in a friendly 17 days ago at Lansdowne Road, manager Steve Staunton has all his big guns available to him for the clash at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion.

Keane, vice-captain Shay Given, centre-back Richard Dunne and left-winger Damien Duff all missed the Dutch debacle through injury.

But the quartet return to bolster the Irish side looking for a confidence-boosting result to begin their campaign on the road to the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria.

The other starters include Stephen Carr, Andy O’Brien and Kevin Kilbane, who joined Wigan from Everton on transfer deadline day.

John O’Shea, Steven Reid and Steve Finnan complete the line-up.