Last Updated: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:41
Wigan midfielder James McCarthy has won a late call-up to the Republic of Ireland team for tonight's World Cup qualifier in Sweden.
McCarthy has been drafted into Giovanni Trapattoni's starting eleven after originally being omitted by the Italian, who had selected Paul Green of Leeds to play alongside Glenn Whelan in the middle of the park.
However, Trapattoni has now been forced to change his plans after Whelan was ruled out of the clash at the Friends Arena in Stockholm due to the ankle problem he suffered playing for Stoke at the weekend against West Brom, paving the way for McCarthy's eventual inclusion.
Ireland's veteran manager had surprisingly opted not to select the in-form Latics midfielder in the first place as he felt Green would offer the team greater defensive protection.
In another last minute reshuffle, Stoke striker Jonathan Walters has earned a start after Hull's Robbie Brady was also ruled out by injury.
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