Collins Returns as Ireland Face Austria With Group Top Spot at Stake
Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins, Dara O'Shea and James Abankwah return for the Nations League game in Linz. Austria, three points clear in the group, would earn automatic promotion to League A with a win. Both line-ups are confirmed.
Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins returned to the starting line-up for the UEFA Nations League match against Austria at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, alongside Dara O'Shea and James Abankwah. The Austria vs Ireland tie could decide the group's top spot.
Austria lead the group by three points with two games left. A win over Ireland would earn them automatic promotion to League A.
Collins missed all four of Ireland's September and October fixtures with a calf injury. He now leads Heimir Hallgrimsson's side from the centre of a back three.
O'Shea sat out the 1-1 draw with Israel in Serbia on October 4 because of the impending birth of his second child. Abankwah missed that game through suspension and now starts at right wing-back. Ryan Manning takes the left wing-back slot, with Liam Scales on the left of the back three and Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.
Finn Azaz again plays a deeper midfield role, as he did in the home game against Austria last month. Jayson Molumby partners him. Jack Moylan and Adam Idah support centre-forward Troy Parrott.
Jimmy Dunne was the only squad member left out of the matchday 23. Hallgrimsson had said the day before that Séamus Coleman, who is in a hybrid training player-coach role, would not be called upon. Molumby, Manning, Scales, Idah and Conor Coventry start the game on yellow cards.
Austria hit by injuries
Austria made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Kosovo. Philipp Lienhart, Philipp Mwene, Christoph Lang and Christoph Baumgartner come in. Konrad Laimer captains Ralf Rangnick's team.
Rangnick lost Xaver Schlager and Alexander Prass to injury before the game. He called up 19-year-old Stuttgart midfielder Yanik Spalt, who joined the final training session. Alexander Schlager replaces the goalkeeper from the 2-2 draw at the Aviva Stadium.
Kosovo and Ireland both have five points. Even if Austria finish level with Kosovo, they would go up on the better head-to-head record.
Laimer said his team had to "exert some pressure" and believed they could win if they performed well. He expected the home crowd to help: "It really spurs us. We gain momentum."
Austria finish their group schedule with a game against Israel.
Austria: Alexander Schlager; Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, Kevin Danso, Philipp Mwene; Konrad Laimer (c), Christoph Baumgartner, Nicolas Seiwald; Romano Schmid, Christoph Lang; Michael Gregoritsch.
Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Dara O'Shea, Nathan Collins (c), Liam Scales; James Abankwah, Ryan Manning; Jayson Molumby, Finn Azaz; Jack Moylan, Adam Idah; Troy Parrott.
The referee is Irfan Peljto of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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