Stephen Kenny: We're not perfect but the team is emerging

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny says a more settled starting XI would likely emerge in 2022 after the team's "transitional" period - but added he would ideally prefer his players to seek out club moves which would enable them to play more regularly.

Kenny also confirmed that "talks are ongoing" in his contract negotiations with the FAI, saying there was "just a few things we need to sort out".

Two springtime friendlies were announced this week, with Ireland hosting a Belgium side at the summit of the world rankings and Lithuania on 26 and 29 March respectively as they prepare for their next wave of competitive fixtures in the Nations League commencing in June.

After a trying first year in the job, during which Ireland won just one match in 16, Kenny's side finished 2021 on a high with three emphatic victories in their last four games, along with an impressive draw against Portugal.

Since taking over, Kenny has handed international debuts to no fewer than 11 players, with plenty of chopping and changing - some voluntary, some enforced - across 2020 and early 2021.

In a wide-ranging interview with RTÉ's Saturday Sport, Kenny said he envisaged that a more "settled" team was in the process of emerging, though he was at pains to stress that it was always possible for form players to break into the side.

"We've had a transitional period," Kenny he said. "Now we have a more settled, consistent look about our squad so there'll be less changes. Still, there are opportunities for people who are in form with their clubs. It's not a closed shop.

"But we have had a more settled squad. You need that continuity going forward and people need to know the demands of their roles and the connection with their team-mates and that