Aaron Connolly

Think that's likely. Expect Collins to start with McGoldrick potentially coming in for Swiss game. His quotes on Connolly are encouraging though and have been consistent. Two sets below. 

"I wouldn’t have put him in the squad if I felt he couldn’t do a job. I said before if someone gets in the Premier League first team and starts scoring goals, they can have a chance.

"This was all on the back of Troy Parrott and Aaron being in the U21s and doing well. But I said then if they are playing in the Premier League, he has a chance. And now Aaron has done that so he has."

"We'll be playing 4-3-3 with three up front and he could play in any of those three roles," he said. "You have to be fairly flexible and fluid when you play in those positions, you cannot play in straight lines.

"So I don't doubt that he could play in any one of them. He really has got pace and that scares most people.

"If somebody gets into the Premier League and has done what Aaron has done, well that gives me something to think about," said McCarthy.

"He has proved to be the difference in a really top league, not just the difference in a game against Armenia or Sweden in the U-21s which I have a lot of respect for, but it was not a senior men's international team or the Premier League." 

And on Collins... 

"He has scored goals wherever he has been and he's doing it now in the Championship, and doing well. He really did change the game when he came on against Bulgaria. I know it's a friendly, but his attitude was great when he came on."

I tend to do my betting with more reputable establishments to be honest as opposed to a random anonymous forum.

Anyone with half a clue about our underage set up would of known he was coming through.

Now take your left nut and nonsense comments and jog on M8.

Have that feeling myself. I was certain it was going to be Collins until Mick’s comments. Although in saying that, both players could start. 

well, with "Didseh" injured, we are very short of options up front and whoever we start up front will not be a proven commodity at international level. Robinson will be out wide, Collins hasn't had a competitive minute, Hogan hasn't had a competitive start, nor has Maguire. There's not a competitive goal between any of them. So in that sense, Connolly is no more unproven at international level. Not saying he should start, but that's the landscape in front of him.

I reckon Mick just goes with whoever impresses him most in training this week.

 

Agreed. I can't see him starting. It will be Collins through the middle with McClean and Robinson on the wings and Doherty at left back. If it's 1-1 or 0-0 with 20 mins or so to go then Connolly would be a great option to have off the bench.