Seamus Coleman with fellow right-back for Ireland Matt Doherty.
INPHO/RYAN BYRNE
New Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has confirmed that he will not be changing captains. Kenny said: “The one thing I have done, the only player I have contacted, is Seamus Coleman, as captain. I want to be fair and try and treat everyone as equally as I can and not be ringing some players and not others. I rang Seamus as captain, just to reassure him that he will indeed be the captain of Ireland under my tenure as well. The reason being that every value he has as a man and a player, the way he prepares and applies himself, I admire. He’s a great ambassador. But ambassador is one thing. I just think his preparation, how he carries himself, his overall commitment to Irish football, makes him an absolute standout captain for us, that’s how I view it.” However, in the same interview it looks like Coleman might have trouble getting the number two jersey as Kenny was fulsome in his praise for the Irish back four in our last game against Denmark “I looked at the back four against Denmark, Doherty, Egan, Duffy and Stevens, and in my informed view that is in the top ten of back fours in Europe,’’ said Kenny. Mick McCarthy preferred Coleman at right back, but with the Donegal man suspended for the Denmark game, Matt Doherty got the number two jersey.
-- Sean Creedon
