U-21 Preview

Having admitted that he is still coming to grips with the job, Don Givens kept the tinkering to a minimum yesterday when he named his first Ireland under-21 side.

There are only two changes to the side that will take on the Czechs at Belfield this evening from that which played Macedonia back in October.

Everton's Richard Dunne, back from suspension, and Alan Quinn of Sheffield Wednesday come in for Jason Gavin, who is injured, and Colin Healy.

The line-up is based on the team that won the European Youths' title in Cyprus 18 months ago with seven of the players that played in the final against Germany set to start this evening.

"I've found it a little difficult to make the final selection," admitted Givens, "but I'm looking forward to the game and I'm hoping to make a lot more than three changes so that I can get a look at as many players as possible." Certainly with half a dozen players who already have Premiership experience and plenty more who have established themselves as first-team players, Givens looks to have stronger options to play with than any of his immediate predecessors.

Team: O'Reilly (Northampton); Heary (Huddersfield), Dunne (Everton), O'Brien (Bradford City), Clarke (Stoke City); B Quinn (Coventry City), A Quinn (Sheffield Wed), Rowlands (Brentford); Partridge (Liverpool), Doherty and George (both Luton Town).