HEIMIR ADDING STEEL

IT is no coincidence that there are heightened expectations around Ireland's new-look midfield.

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

IT is no coincidence that there are heightened expectations around Ireland's new-look midfield.

That's because Heimir Hallgrimsson has gone out of his way to throw some physically imposing players into the mix.

St Mirren’s Killian Phillips, Stoke City’s Bosun Lawal and John Joe Patrick Finn of French side Reims are all comfortably over 6ft 2ins.