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Conor Hourihane will step into the breach for Ireland against Bulgaria as manager Mick McCarthy considers possible solutions to a fast-approaching problem.<\/p>\nConor Hourihane will step into the breach for Ireland against Bulgaria as manager Mick McCarthy considers possible solutions to a fast-approaching problem.<\/p>\n
The Aston Villa midfielder will line up at left-back at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday evening with Enda Stevens \u2013 who has started all five Euro 2020 qualifiers to date in that role \u2013 suspended for October\u2019s trip to Georgia after picking up three yellow cards.<\/p>\n
McCarthy needs to find a deputy for a game which will prove key to Ireland\u2019s qualification hopes with right-sided wing-back Matt Doherty, who is absent through injury this month, and winger James McClean having been mentioned in dispatches along with Stephen Ward and Greg Cunningham.<\/p>\n
However, Hourihane will get the nod against the Bulgarians and while he is likely to return to his more accustomed position in Georgia, his manager is keen to see what he can offer.<\/p>\n
McCarthy said: \u201cHe is a very intelligent player, that\u2019s for sure. He has a wonderful left foot and if we can get him further up the pitch so he can deliver crosses, we should get some joy out of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cDepending on who is up against him \u2013 if he has a flying winger can he deal with it? At least I will have had a look at that and it might be another string to his bow.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there anything at stake tomorrow night except trying to find some things out? No, would you agree? Well, why would I not try it?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens if it ends up being that he looks amazing? He\u2019s got all the tools to play there, that\u2019s for sure. Wouldn\u2019t it be great if it turned out that I thought, \u2018Well, I\u2019ve got one that can play there\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland will face Bulgaria knowing that two wins out of three against Georgia, Switzerland and Denmark when they return to competitive action in October would see them qualify for next summer\u2019s finals, but McCarthy knows that will be easier said than done.<\/p>\n
He said with a smile: \u201cThat should be nice and easy then, won\u2019t it? Georgia away, Switzerland away and Denmark at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went to Denmark and tried to win that and at the end of it we might have nicked it. We tried against Switzerland to beat them, but we didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remain unbeaten and I always have confidence that we can win games.\u201d<\/p>\n