“I’ve told the players that if they perform well they will be in the team for the competitive games. I hope that this is the team that plays against Albania on Friday,” Givens told the FAI website, www.fai.ie.

Cork City striker John O’Flynn will make his first start for the Under-21s alongside the experienced Graham Barrett and Givens will look to improve his team’s goalscoring return of four goals in six games.

In defence, Tottenham’s Kelly – who has spent most of the season on loan at Southend and then QPR – Cyran (Sheffield United) and Capper (Sunderland) are all set to make their debuts.

“We have three boys making their debuts but I’m not worried about any of them,” said Givens.

“Stephen Kelly has been playing regular first-team football this season while Colin Cyran did very well alongside John Thompson against the Under-20s in a training game last week.

“We’ve lost three left-backs from the squad but Stephen Capper did a good job in training and although Patrick Kohlmann (Borussia Dortmund) has now arrived from Germany, I think Stephen has been doing well.”

Team: Stack (Arsenal), Kelly (Tottenham), Cryan (Sheff Utd), Thompson (Nottm Forest), Capper (Sunderland); Butler (Sunderland), Miller (Celtic), Thornton (Sunderland), Reid (Nottm Forest), O’Flynn (Cork), Barrett (Coventry).