It’s a case of back with the old and waiting on the new as Mick McCarthy announced his first squad ahead of the upcoming UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Aston Villa’s Glenn Whelan has been named in the provisional squad and the new international manager admitted that he had been impressed with the veteran midfielder’s club form.
Aiden McGeady, who earned the League One Player of the Month award in February, also returns to the squad with Stephen Ward, Keiren Westwood and David McGoldrick also back in contention for places.
James McCarthy, whose most recent cap arrived in the 3-1 away win over Moldova in October 2016, also returns to the squad, though he hasn't played a competitive match of any description in over a year.
And McCarthy heavily implied that Daryl Murphy, who shortly celebrates his 36th birthday, would also be in the squad had he signaled his availability.
One player yet to pull on the green shirt of the Ireland senior team is in-form Leeds United frontman Patrick Bamford, however, that particular bit of business appears to be all-but completed with the manager confident that the striker still wants to play for Ireland.
"Not at all," said McCarthy when asked had he given up on Bamford.
"My last contact with him was on Saturday morning. I just congratulated him on his goals - the one he scored from the edge of the box was a sublime effort – and just asked him did he still want to continue to join us, and he said yes.
"If he does, it would be June, because we are not going to get [clearance] for these games. I’ve made that clear to him and I’m hoping to see him asap.
"I asked him the question. Do you still want to join us? Yes was the answer."
James Collins and Padraig Amond are two new faces who have been named in the squad and while both players have been plucked from League One and League Two respectively, it is clear that McCarthy has been impressed by both of their goals’ tally this season.
Amond, of course, was the star of the show as Newport went on another impressive FA Cup run. The former Shamrock Rovers striker ended his involvement in style by scoring against Premier League champions Manchester City.
Collins is currently the top scorer in League One with 20 league goals for Luton Town who lead the division by five points in their quest to gain promotion to the Championship.
"They are scoring goals. And both of them have scored goals at whatever level they have been," explained McCarthy.
"Padraig Amond, of course, has been brought to everyone’s attention for the goals he scored during the FA Cup.
"But I tend not to judge on a couple of games in Cup competitions, but he has scored goals all season for his club."
And while Collins is now 28 years old and has spent the majority of his career in the lower divisions with Shrewsbury and Crawley Town, McCarthy revealed that he had been a fan of the target man since his days with the Aston Villa reserves.
"James Collins has scored wherever he has been. I used to watch him at Aston Villa reserves when I was at Wolves.
"He has always been a competent player, and always been a goalscorer. So he is someone of a different type, to be honest."
And while McCarthy has had to dip into the lower tiers of English football to find some in-form goalscorers, the manager emphasised the importance of having someone who has the confidence to convert a chance should it present itself.
"If you have someone in a rich vein of form, as in goalscorers, you may just require that at some stage.
"Putting someone on who has not scored 20 goals, I’d sooner have someone who I know if a chance falls to him, he might just put it in the net."
As for Whelan, his return is probably the standout
Contrary to popular belief, the 35- year-old told the manager that he had not retired from the international game, and as a result, McCarthy believes that the Dubliner can still do a job at international level.
"I asked him had he retired and he said that he hadn’t," said McCarthy, speaking at today’s squad announcement at 3 headquarters in Dublin.
"He’s playing very well. He’s playing with Conor Hourihane as well, so there is a bit of a partnership there.
"You’ll probably all put them two playing together in team," joked McCarthy.
"There is at least an understanding of playing together."
Whelan has enjoyed a very consistent season playing in the holding role at Villa Park, and while the manager would not confirm that he would be selected for these immediate games, he wanted to let the player know that he still believed he had the ability to make a contribution for Ireland.
"I’ve been impressed with him," added McCarthy.
"I might want him for a specific game at any stage. [I’m letting] him know he has not been forgotten about and that he was a player who could do a job in the national team.
"He’d be pleased with that, I would have thought."
