Stephen Kelly believes the Republic of Ireland are in a no-win scenario ahead of Thursday's friendly against Andorra, with failure to beat the minnows potentially being the "final straw" for manager Stephen Kenny.
Kenny is 11 games into his tenure as senior Ireland boss and is still waiting on his first win.
Andorra are ranked 158th in the world.
Ireland are without Darren Randolph, Callum Robinson, Aaron Connolly, Jack Byrne, Enda Stevens, Alan Browne, Kevin Long, Callum O'Dowda, Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady this week with Kenny bringing in plenty of new faces.
It'll be a less experienced Irish team that lines up at Estadi Nacional but one that will still be fully expected to deliver a win. Anything less could be catastrophic for the manager, warned Kelly.
"There is a lot of pressure on this game, just in the sense that they have to win. But I think they gain nothing from winning the game"
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 31, 2021
Stephen Kelly on what a victory for Ireland in Andorra would mean for Stephen Kenny and his squad @GameOn2FM #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/swg3WQV5N5
"There are so many fresh faces and new people in the squad, it's changed so much over the last few years," he told RTÉ's Game On.
"There's been such an influx of players. They're all new to it to some extent. You have a lot of senior players there as well but I get the impression a lot of those players are trying to impress, trying to show their worth and that they want be in the Ireland squad.
"Every time you get to put that Ireland jersey on it's an absolute privilege and a joy so I'm sure they're going to give their best, but there is a lot of pressure on this game, just in the sense that they have to win.
"I think they gain nothing from winning the game. I think it makes no difference to Stephen Kenny because even if they get that win under their belt I still don't think beating Andorra is something to write home about.
"I don't think it means anything apart from the fact that they have their first win.
"If he doesn't win the game that could be the end, that might be the final straw. It's such a poor quality opposition. We have to win."
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