Caoimhín Kelleher injury means Mark Travers to start for Ireland against Serbia

Travers is only 21 and on loan at Swindon Town in League One where he hasn’t played in six weeks

Mark Travers. Picture: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Different year, new campaign, same rotten luck for Stephen Kenny.

Yesterday’s confirmation that Caoimhín Kelleher has not recovered from an abdominal injury means that the Republic of Ireland manager will hand a competitive debut to Mark Travers when the side’s World Cup qualifying campaign begins in Serbia on Wednesday.