Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny says a more settled starting XI would likely emerge in 2022 after the team's "transitional" period - but added he would ideally prefer his players to seek out club moves which would enable them to play more regularly.
Kenny also confirmed that "talks are ongoing" in his contract negotiations with the FAI, saying there was "just a few things we need to sort out".
Two springtime friendlies were announced this week, with Ireland hosting a Belgium side at the summit of the world rankings and Lithuania on 26 and 29 March respectively as they prepare for their next wave of competitive fixtures in the Nations League commencing in June.
After a trying first year in the job, during which Ireland won just one match in 16, Kenny's side finished 2021 on a high with three emphatic victories in their last four games, along with an impressive draw against Portugal.
Since taking over, Kenny has handed international debuts to no fewer than 11 players, with plenty of chopping and changing - some voluntary, some enforced - across 2020 and early 2021.
In a wide-ranging interview with RTÉ's Saturday Sport, Kenny said he envisaged that a more "settled" team was in the process of emerging, though he was at pains to stress that it was always possible for form players to break into the side.
"We've had a transitional period," Kenny he said. "Now we have a more settled, consistent look about our squad so there'll be less changes. Still, there are opportunities for people who are in form with their clubs. It's not a closed shop.
"But we have had a more settled squad. You need that continuity going forward and people need to know the demands of their roles and the connection with their team-mates and that understanding that develops over games.
"We're very fortunate with our selection of goalkeepers. The goalkeeping position is very competitive. Obviously, Gavin Bazunu. Caoimhin Kelleher has been outstanding for Liverpool, when he's had his opportunities. And Mark Travers has a high number of clean sheets with Bournemouth who are top of the Championship.
"At the moment, we have injuries at centre-back. Andrew Omobamidele, who was really exceptional, has been injured. Shane Duffy had an ankle operation recently. We've seen Dara O'Shea, who got injured against Portugal, is on his way back.
"We have been pretty consistent in our 3-4-2-1 system, we can have modifications within that.
"Our attacking players, we'd rather they were playing on a more consistent basis with their clubs but overall we're delighted with how the team is emerging.
"Someone like Jeff Hendrick, for example, it's been difficult for him. Because he probably had his best spell in an Ireland shirt for a couple of years, really started to find form and then going back to Newcastle and not really getting game-time.
"Alan Browne at Preston is having a bit of a purple patch at the moment, I've seen him twice in the past couple of weeks and he's playing excellently."
Asked whether he saw it as his remit to advise players to seek out moves designed to ensure regular football, Kenny said it was the players' prerogative, acknowledging that many would wish to play at the highest level they can.
However, he did say it was preferable from his point of view that Irish players are playing club football regularly.
"Ultimately, the players make their own decisions," Kenny said. "They all want to play at the highest level they can and you have to respect that.
"Sometimes you have periods out of the team and you have to roll your sleeves up, work hard and try and make it happen for yourself and take the most of the opportunity when it's presented. Sometimes, you don't get an opportunity.
"You can advise players. We want all the players playing as often as possible because that's how you get your form. It's not always possible but listen, we have a lot of players playing regularly and that's a good thing."
With much of the past year and a half dominated by debate over Ireland's change in philosophy under Kenny, with advocates and sceptics taking aim at each in the wake of every result, the manager is adamant that there is, in the main, broad enthusiasm for the approach the national team have embarked upon under his leadership.
"The thing with the national team at the moment, it's a different dynamic. In the past, we had players with Manchester United or Liverpool or Tottenham. It's only in 2012 that we had Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Given, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, all of those players in the top level in the Premier League.
"We don't have that now but what we do have is all these players with tremendous potential coming through into League One and the Championship and into Premier League clubs, like Adam Idah playing recently with Norwich.
"We're not perfect but the team is emerging. You've seen us score 20 goals this season and the goals are spread around the team and that brings encouragement.
"We had a low point last March, losing to Luxembourg at home, that was a low point for us all. I think the players have emerged. Scoring three in Azerbaijan, four against Qatar, three in Luxembourg and winning convincingly. Because Ireland have not been winning games like that away from home, scoring those goals. They can take great confidence from that and take that into the Nations League.
"We've had tremendous support. Even when the results weren't great, people were saying we see the idea that you had. And now they can see it with their own eyes.
"You want supporters coming, looking forward to seeing the team play. Excited by the possibilities. They know in every single game, we'll take risks. They can see the team emerging, they know we're a work in progress but we're getting better. Everywhere I go throughout the country, I can see that people are excited."
As for the outstanding contract situation, Kenny, whose current deal runs out this summer, is relatively sanguine.
"Talks are ongoing and I'm sure we'll come to an agreement. Certainly, there's no issues with finance or anything like that. There's just a few things we need to sort out."
And does the manager feel the full support of the FAI? "Absolutely, that's not an issue."
