Republic of Ireland U21s v Israel: All you need to know

EUROPEAN U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FIRST LEG

Republic of Ireland v Israel, Tallaght Stadium, 7pm

TV

Live build-up and coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ2 Player from 6.30pm.

ONLINE

Live match tracker on rte.ie/sport, the RTÉ News app, as well as updates and goals on RTÉ Soccer Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.

WEATHER

Tomorrow will bring a mix of sunny spells and some passing showers in the afternoon. Highs of 15 to 17 degrees in light or moderate northwest winds.

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INJURIES AND A WILDCARD

Jim Crawford has navigated a steady course through what is already a historic campaign for Ireland in reaching a European Championship play-off at this age grade, and the head coach has done so with a relatively stable squad selection throughout.

However, untimely injuries have hit the tightly-knit group ahead of the pivotal play-off tie against Israel. Como's Liam Kerrigan was one of the trusted lieutenants on the flanks of the midfield during the last window but a cruciate ligament injury means the Sligo native will face months on the sidelines.

Luca Connell, Mark McGuinness and David Harrington were also confirmed as absentees on Monday with Burnley's Dara Costelloe, NAC Breda's Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and the St Patrick’s Athletic duo of Adam O’Reilly and David Odumosu brought in to fill the places of the quartet. Midfielder Gavin Kilkenny was among those also ruled out before that when the initial squad was named.

But much of the focus in the build-up has been on the inclusion of Aaron Connolly. Almost three years