James McCarthy is out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales at the Aviva Stadium, kick-off 7:45pm.
The Everton midfielder had been struggling with a hamstring strain in the build-up to tonight’s game but having trained for the past two days with the squad, Martin O’Neill selected him to start in the middle of the park.
However, he felt a twinge in the warm-up and was forced to withdraw at the last minute, with O'Neill throwing David Meyler into the fray.
The starting XI sees six changes from the side that enjoyed a 1-0 away win in Vienna back in November in Ireland’s last World Cup qualifier.
Meyler is joined in midfield by James McClean, Jeff Hendrick and Glenn Whelan, while Shane Long is set to lead the line against the Welsh.
With Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark both out injured, John O’Shea and Richard Keogh start in the centre of defence, while Stephen Ward slots in at left-back in the absence of the suspended Robbie Brady.
Seamus Coleman starts at right back and will captain the side, while Darren Randolph starts in goal.
James McClean will line out wearing the number five jersey as a mark of respect to former team-mate Ryan McBride who died tragically on Sunday.
Daryl Horgan is in line to make his international debut if called into action off the bench, while the uncapped John Egan and Conor Hourihane are also among the replacements.
Ireland team: Randolph; Coleman, O'Shea, Keogh, Ward; Hendrick, Whelan, Meyler, McClean, Long, Walters.
Subs: Westwood, C. Doyle, McGeady, K. Doyle, Horgan, Christie, Egan, Hourihane, Hayes, O'Dowda, Pearce
Watch Republic of Ireland v Wales live on RTÉ2 from 7pm Friday, listen live on 2fm's Game On and follow our live blog on RTE.ie and the News Now app.
