Can Stephen Kenny cash in on Bernardo Silva's absence against Portugal?

Kenny will have another timely break for arguably the more important of the double-header on Sunday when Luxembourg take to the field led by one of their rookie goalkeepers

BORN TO RUN: Seamus Coleman, left, and James McClean enjoy a lighter moment during an Ireland training session at the Aviva Stadium. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Towards the end of a torrid World Cup qualifying campaign, could there be a Silva lining for Stephen Kenny’s Ireland?

Portugal at home in the penultimate qualifier had been circled when the draw was last December as the qualifier Ireland might need a result in to snaffle runners-up and a play-off shot at reaching next year’s showpiece in Qatar.