James McCarthy handed first competitive start for the Republic of Ireland against Kazakhstan in Friday's World Cup qualifier

Wigan midfielder James McCarthy will start his first competitive game for the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan on Friday.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni's starting XI sees a back four of John O'Shea, Darren O'Dea, Sean St Ledger and Stephen Ward line up in front of Sunderland stopper Keiren Westwood.

McCarthy starts in a four-man midfield that also contains Aiden McGeady, Simon Cox, and Glenn Whelan, while Jon Walters gets the nod ahead of Kevin Doyle to partner Robbie Keane up front.

Republic of Ireland XI v Kazakhstan - Westwood, O'Shea, St. Ledger, O'Dea, Ward, Whelan, McCarthy, McGeady, Cox, Walters, Keane