Heimir Hallgrimsson will be hoping that the full complement made it through the weekend games to report for international duty in Dublin ahead of the upcoming UEFA Nations League games against England and Greece.
The new manager will not want to delve into his reserve list at the start of his first international window, having named a 23-man squad on Thursday.
As things stand all players are expected to report for duty, although there was a lot of media speculation regarding the availability of Evan Ferguson after missing out on Brighton's matchday squad at Arsenal on Saturday.
Ferguson was an unused substitute in the midweek Carabao Cup win, which was enough to allow Ireland to include him in the squad, and with the blessing of his club, remarked Hallgrimsson after the announcement.
The young striker is still returning to match fitness and there is every chance that it will suit Brighton to see him gain some valuable competitive minutes away with Ireland for two games.
It does, however, make it an unlikely scenario that he will be fit to start either game, with minutes off the bench perhaps his best option for this double-header.
Of the 13 Premier League players in the Ireland squad, seven of them saw action at the weekend, including Ipswich duo Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene, who helped their new club to their first top flight point of the season.
Both players saw some goalmouth action, however, their work rate was just as important in a tough game against Fulham, which ended all square.
One of the real positives of the weekend was to see a fully fit Seamus Coleman flying at Everton – well for the first 86 minutes at least – before his side’s collective commanding performance proved all for nothing, conceding three late goals to lose 3-2 to Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
But surely Coleman will be tasked with leading the squad into the Nations League campaign, and it will be interesting to see what role Matt Doherty has to play under the new regime.
The Wolves man was back in the starting XI at the start of the Premier League campaign, however, the versatile defender, who can play right across the back line, had to settle for 15 minutes off the bench on Saturday in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
Nathan Collins is perhaps the most settled Ireland player in the Premier League at the moment, as he sits in the heart of the Brentford defence, at a club who have started the season well, in sixth place after the opening three games.
Likewise, Liam Scales is similarly settled at Scottish champions Celtic and put in a composed and commanding 90 minutes on Sunday in the Old Firm derby as he helped his side to hammer old foes Rangers 3-0.
Not so much for fellow centre-halves Jake O'Brien at new club Everton and Andrew Omobamidele at Nottingham Forest.
O’Brien may have played midweek in the Carabao Cup, however, he has yet to see a minute of Premier League action, despite the fact that his side have lost their opening three games, conceding 10 goals in the process.
Omobamidele, meanwhile, missed out on the Forest matchday squad for the visit of Wolves
Dara O'Shea was one of the Irish on the move at the end of the transfer window, and as a result the defender has missed the last two weeks of action as Burnley left him out last weekend, while he could only make the bench for his new club Ipswich Town in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Will Smallbone enjoyed another start in the Premier League as Southampton travelled to Brentford, however, the midfielder appeared to be scapegoated a touch as he was part of a double half-time substitution following a poor first half.
Things didn’t get much better for the Saints in the second half, as it happens, as they were comprehensively beaten 3-1 following their poor outing.
Kasey McAteer also enjoyed minutes on the pitch as Leicester City took on Aston Villa, however, it was really just a short-lived cameo as the attacking midfielder was sent on late in the game as his side chased an equaliser that did not arrive.
There were some reasons to be cheerful in the Championship as both Jayson Molumby and Alan Browne were on the scoresheet for West Brom and Sunderland respectively.
The midfield unit is going to be an intriguing selection call from the manager who is looking for players to make life uncomfortable for opponents.
The fact that Molumby and Browne add goals to that equation put both in a very good place ahead of the double-header, especially with Josh Cullen ruled out through injury.
Another candidate for that energetic midfield role is Jason Knight, and likewise, Hallgrimsson will be delighted to see his player notch up another 90 minutes for Bristol City.
Callum O’Dowda was another who played the full game, although it was a disappointing day for Cardiff as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Middlesbrough.
Team-mate Callum Robinson came on for the last 20-odd minutes but was unable to drag his side back into the contest.
An interesting aside in that game as Finn Azaz played 90 minutes for Boro, however, the midfielder did not make the final cut for Hallgrimsson’s squad.
Robbie Brady made an appearance off the bench for Preston, coming on in the 58th minute in his side’s 3-1 defeat to Oxford.
Adam Idah had to settle for a starting spot on the bench for the Bhoys, and while his appearance late in the game came after the business was done, with Celtic leading 3-0, the striker will arrive into camp buoyed by his club’s huge Old Firm victory, while sitting proudly atop the table.
Troy Parrott is still flying high at new club AZ Alkmaar, as the striker started once more in Friday night’s 3-0 away victory at RKC Waalwijk.
Alkmaar are unbeaten after four game and sit second in the table, two points off leaders PSV Eindhoven who have won all four games.
Following the closing of the transfer window, Caoimhin Kelleher remains in situ at Liverpool, which means that a watching brief is to be expected for the Cork native as Alisson Becker maintains the number one spot at the Anfield club.
Likewise, Mark Travers saw a changing of the guard at AFC Bournemouth, in terms of the goalkeeping position, however, it does not appear to have affected his place in the pecking order as he watched on from the sidelines in Saturday’s away win at Everton.
Max O'Leary did see 90 minutes of competitive Championship action at Bristol City, however, he shipped three goals and is unlikely to jump to the top of the Ireland rankings.
So it remains to be seen who Hallgrimsson will start in goals on Saturday evening, and while the obvious choice would appear to go with the most experienced, Kelleher, he may put it down to performances in training during the week and who best suits the system.
Ireland squad for England and Greece
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O'Leary (Bristol City)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City), Robbie Brady (Preston North End)
Midfielders: Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Sunderland), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City)
Attackers: Adam Idah (Celtic), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town), Callum Robinson (Cardiff City), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar)
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