Blues Republic of Ireland duo Sammie Szmodics and Dara O’Shea look set to face England at Wembley in this evening’s final UEFA Nations League qualifier (KO 5pm, ITV1).

Forward Szmodics started the 1-0 victory over Finland in Dublin on Thursday, winning his ninth cap, while O’Shea, who is managing a back problem, came off the bench to pick up his 31st at right-back.

It would be no surprise if O’Shea started this evening with Wolves defender Matt Doherty, who began the game against the Finns, having played little football for his club lately.

Szmodics, speaking following the Blues’ 2-1 at Tottenham, was anticipating family having split loyalties.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s the home of English football so to go there and play for my country against England will be a challenge like today was,” he said.

“Hopefully we can put in the same performance and get the same result. Some family in the away end and some in the home end, so they can fight over where they’re going to sit.

“I’ve got eight caps now [prior to the Finland match] and I just want to keep adding more, I want to add an international goal.

“It’s a great set-up down there with young players that are hungry to improve, I’m looking forward to a good week away with them.”

Ireland’s Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrímsson revealed ahead of the game that he is familiar with Wembley due to a family connection to the Blues and presumably has strong childhood memories of the 1978 FA Cup final.

“We grow up with live games from England,” he said. “All Icelanders have a favourite team in the Premier League that reflects the era you grew up in.

“My father was a big Ipswich fan. Everyone knows the history of football is connected to Wembley, for sure.”

Regardless of tonight’s result, Ireland will finish third in the group, while a victory for England will confirm top spot.

Elsewhere, Town U21s striker Ash Boatswain could add to his five Montserrat caps when his side take on El Salvador in a CONCACAF Nations League match in the early hours of Monday morning (KO 1am).

Boatswain, 18, netted his first international goal in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Montserrat are currently bottom of League B Group A and that result all but confirmed their demotion to League C. Tonight’s match is being streamed live on the CONCACAF YouTube channel.

Photo: Andrew Surma/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Radlett_blue added 10:29 - Nov 17 Hopefully neither of our players gets injured in what is a dead rubber for Ireland. Good for Szmodics's career for him to be getting some international starts, although he only qualifies for Ireland under the absurd grandparent rule.
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ajs83 added 10:42 - Nov 17 It's done on head-to-head record so goal difference is irrelevant. If England win the match they win the group regardless of the Greece score.
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slade1 added 11:33 - Nov 17 It would be nice to see Sammie score a couple against England
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PhilTWTD added 12:38 - Nov 17 ajs83 Thanks, was forgetting that. Amended.
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Northstandveteran added 17:06 - Nov 17 Hoping for a good performance from our blue boys but a comprehensive English victory.
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Northstandveteran added 18:57 - Nov 17 Szmodics never gave up even when his team were getting tonked. McKenna has installed this in his squad and this is why we'll do more than stay up. Blue army!
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