CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A REST

Kilbane: Burnout is a big issue so it's a good time for Hallgrimsson to bring in fresh blood

- BY MARK MCCADDEN

KEVIN KILBANE insists the upcoming friendly double-header with Senegal and Luxembourg is 'all about the younger players' - and says the toll placed on the older heads in the squad could do more harm than good.

With the games interfering with rest and recovery schedules after a long, hard club season, the 110-times capped Ireland legend believes the summer international window presents an opportunity to give young and inexperienced players a taste of the international scene both on the pitch and around the camp.

And in that regard, he believes Heimir Hallgrímsson has got his squad selection spot-on, with five uncapped players arriving this week into camp and 12 with 10 or fewer caps.

The former Iceland boss also made a point of omitting most of his Championship-based options, as their season ended a month ago.

"I always think the experienced players probably have more to lose than anything with these games," said Kilbane.

"The players that pull out get their attitudes questioned, and the players that turn up are maybe not looking after their bodies, they are not doing things right. You can't really win with it.

"It's all about the younger players, the inexperienced players with not a lot of caps, the youngsters that have never been a part of the squad before.

"They are the ones that can really make a big impression around the whole camp itself, not just the games.

"That's going to be an interesting one to see how they adapt coming into the squad. Are they able to cope with that sort of atmosphere, the intensity around it?