Former Republic of Ireland winger Keith Treacy feels Heimir Hallgrimsson should have plumped for the known quantity of James McClean as an emergency left-back option, after the uncapped Kevin O'Toole was drafted in for this week's final set of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Boys in Green host Portugal on Thursday before finishing the campaign in Budapest against Hungary on Sunday (both live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player).
They may well need to get a point against the star-studded Portuguese as anything less would result in the end of any hopes of a play-off spot if the Hungarians win in Armenia earlier on Thursday evening.
Ireland manager Hallgrimsson named his squad last week and much of the focus centred on the unexpected call-up for New York City FC defender O'Toole.
Hallgrimsson cited a dearth of options at left-back, amid injuries for Robbie Brady and Callum O'Dowda, a niggle for Shamrock Rovers' uncapped Josh Honohan, as well as the suspension for Ryan Manning for the first game this week.
"Kevin comes in as one that just got his clearance to play for us. He's been working on that for over a year, waiting for the clearance. We've been watching him so it's a good time to call him in, especially because of our situation," the Icelandic native said.
While 26-year-old O'Toole is an unknown quantity having spent his career within Major League Soccer, Treacy believes Hallgrimsson could have brought the 103-capped McClean back from the cold.
McClean returned to the Wrexham team for a 22-minute cameo against Charlton on Saturday after missing five of their previous Championship games.
But Treacy feels his experience could have been valuable as a left-back depth option in the very short-term for this week.
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"Heimir is saying we have a lack of depth there. I think we have a left-back smacking us in the face with over 100 caps that could come in and do a job," Treacy said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"I believe he said in his conference, when he was asked about Kevin O'Toole, 'Look, it's the situation'.
"And if a player is coming in because of the situation then he's only coming in to make up the numbers and that's no problem if Kevin O'Toole is going to come in and get a taste of it and maybe get a cap further down the road. Absolutely, no problem.
"But in a World Cup qualifier, this is really, really deep water. It's not a World Cup qualifier against a minnow.
"This is a World Cup qualifier against Portugal and Hungary. Teams that we struggle against and we're going to struggle against.
"So I don't think Kevin O'Toole will play. James McClean is right across the water, has over 100 caps for Ireland, still playing at Wrexham.
"Why not just get him? I would feel an awful lot more comfortable that if, for instance, a couple of players got injured and Kevin O'Toole had to play, I would feel an awful lot more comfortable with a centurion at left back who's been there, done it all before and we know we'll get a level of effort out of James."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Paraguay in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Tuesday from 1.20pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport
Watch Republic of Ireland v Portugal in World Cup qualifying on Thursday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
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