In from the cold? The thirty-somethings Mick McCarthy may call on in 2019

In contrast to soundbites of rebuilding and transition by his predecessor Martin O’Neill, injected into the mission statement from Mick McCarthy is a reality check in pragmatism.

His one shot at succeeding during his second stint in the hotseat will revolve around getting the best team on the pitch, regardless of age, and that could mean an unlikely call for three outcasts of the previous regime.