Murphy Expected to Start for Ireland in Play-Off Friday, 13th Nov 2015 09:38 Blues striker Daryl Murphy is expected to start for the Republic of Ireland in the first leg of their Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina this evening (Sky Sports One, 7pm), while three Town players will be hoping to win U21 caps. With Southampton’s Shane Long and Murphy’s Town team-mate David McGoldrick both injured and ex-Blues skipper Jon Walters is suspended for the first leg, manager Martin O’Neill is expected to hand the 32-year-old striker his 18th full cap. Murphy, who ended his domestic goal drought by netting his first hat-trick in 11 years in Town’s 5-2 win at Rotherham on Saturday, is now looking to bring his long wait for his first international goal to an close. "I said to my Dad [Peter] a while ago, 'I've still not scored for my country, I've had a few chances, I should have scored’,” the striker said speaking to the Irish press earlier in the week. “And he was like, 'Maybe you're waiting for a big game. Maybe it will be a goal that really matters’. "And that's the way you have to think really, if involved or whatever, if I get a chance, I've got to take it. "It would be nice. I don't want to look back not having scored for my country. With a few appearances, you want to look back and say, 'Yeah I've scored for my country but it was a big goal for my country as well’." The former Waterford United, Sunderland and Celtic man says a draw would be a good result from Friday’s first leg with the second game in Dublin on Monday (Sky Sports One, 7pm). "It's going to be tough, we know that,” he continued. “It's going to be a bit of a hostile atmosphere over there. "We've to forget about all that and focus on what we need to do. We need a positive result coming back from Bosnia for the second game. We'll obviously want a draw at least. That would be good to bring back home.” Meanwhile, Blues winger Dylan Connolly will be hoping to win his ninth Republic of Ireland U21 cap when his side take on Lithuania in a Euro 2017 qualifier in Vilnius this evening. The Irish youngsters are currently joint-top of their European Championship qualifying group with nine points along with Italy, Serbia and Slovenia. They subsequently face Norway in a friendly at the RSC, Waterford on Tuesday. Town duo Josh Yorwerth and Michael Crowe will be looking to win Wales U21 caps when the side coached by former Blues midfielder Geraint Williams faces Armenia at Bangor University Stadium this afternoon. Central defender Yorwerth, who is currently on loan at Crawley, has won three caps at U21 level, while keeper Crowe - who is celebrating his 20th birthday today - is yet to make his debut. The Welsh youngsters have another qualifier against Romania at The Racecourse, Wrexham on Tuesday. Elsewhere, a Town U21 side expected to feature only young pros and academy players is playing a behind-closed-doors friendly at West Ham this afternoon. The U21s have no scheduled league game this week and a friendly at Needham Market on Wednesday was cancelled, while the U18s have no match this weekend with their fixture at Millwall having been moved to Saturday 13th February.
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