Ireland's defensive options: Welcome kind of headaches for Stephen Kenny

Whereas Kenny is light on options in other key areas – notably holding midfielders and an increasingly problematic position of left-back – his array of central-defenders is swelling

John Egan and Andrew Omobamidele during a Republic of Ireland training session. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Remember when Jack Charlton started four centre-backs against Scotland? Well, it was vindicated because one of them, Mark Lawrenson, surged clear from his unfamiliar midfield role to bury the winner at Hampden Park on the road to Euro ’88.

Stephen Kenny is the polar opposite to the late Charlton when it comes to footballing principles, yet may be tempted to adopt a similar approach in Portugal on September 1 — not necessarily for the quality of opposition but the abundance of defenders at his disposal.