Greg Cunningham is named in Republic of Ireland team
Manchester City defender Greg Cunningham will win his third cap for the Republic of Ireland in their international friendly against Norway on Wednesday 17 November.
The teenager will replace Kevin Kilbane who was forced to pull out of the squad with a back injury.
Cunningham will start at left back and the player will hope to impress manager Giovanni Trapattoni. The defender is currently on loan with Leicester City and has impressed with the Championship side.
Trapattoni was forced to dramatically change his team after a number of players were ruled out.
Richard Dunne, Ciaran Clark, Robbie Keane, Paul McShane, Sean St Ledger, Paul Green and Kilbane will all miss the fixture with injury.
Darren Gibson has also been released as his child is ill and Ireland will now start Keith Fahey and Glenn Whelan in central midfield.
Speaking at a press conference, Trapattoni said, "We are missing many injured players, but it is important in this friendly game to look at other young players."
The Republic of Ireland manager believes that players like Cunningham and Darren O’Dea will learn from the experience and grow in stature.
"The players, we know, but with us, they can increase in confidence and personality. It will be important in the future that these players are available to us,” said Trapattoni.
The Republic of Ireland manager dismissed the notion that the friendly international and the number of withdrawals suggested some players were not taking the game seriously.
"I have said many times in the past, there is no such thing as a friendly game for the national team. When players play for their country, when they have that shirt on, they have pride, they must be proud because they are playing for their country," said
Trapattoni.
The Irish will expect a tough match against Norway, but the performance of players like Cunningham will be what Trapattoni will be interested in.
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