Uncapped Mark McGuinness selected to start against England at Wembley

Ireland round out their Nations League campaign against the Three Lions on Sunday evening.

Sun, 17 Nov, 2024 - 16:05

John Fallon

Defender Mark McGuinness has been parachuted into the Ireland team for the concluding Uefa Nations League fixture against England at Wembley (5pm).

The Luton Town centre-back was raised 20 miles away from the 80,000 arena in Slough and will be tasked with shackling Harry Kane – the England captain deadlocked with Robbie Keane on 68 international goals.

McGuinness will partner Nathan Collins in central-defence, with Liam Scales expected to be redeployed to left-back. The player who occupied that berth in Thursday’s 1-0 over Finland, Callum O’Dowda, has been pushed further up to the pitch as one of the three supports behind sole striker Evan Ferguson. Dara O’Shea is the third newcomer, replacing Matt Doherty at right-back.

Lee Carsley’s stint as caretaker senior England manager ends after this fixture and he’s continued his blooding of youth by choosing Lewis Hall for the left-back slot. Kyle Walker comes into central-defence for a match England require victory to ensure they stave off competition from Greece to remain top of the group and gain promotion to League A.

ENGLAND: J Pickford; T Livramento, K Walker, M Guehi, L Hall; C Jones, C Gallagher; N Madueke, J Bellingham, A Gordon; H Kane.

IRELAND: C Kelleher; D O'Shea, M McGuinness, N Collins, L Scales; J Cullen, J Molumby; F Ebosele, S Szmodics, C O'Dowda; E Ferguson.

Referee: Erik Lambrechts BEL