UCD striker Colm Whelan has been rewarded for his red-hot form with a first start for the Republic of Ireland under-21s in their Euro qualifier with Italy tonight.
The 21-year-old has been preferred to former Bohemians striker Evan Ferguson and Rotherham United's JJ Kayode, who have shared the number nine jersey to date.
Kilkenny native Whelan has scored 23 goals in all competitions for the Students this season as he topped the scoring charts, including two in the recent play-off win over Treaty United.
He's joined in the starting line-up with Southampton playmaker Will Smallbone, who plays at international level for the first time since tearing his ACL in January.
Also returning to the starting XI are Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Conor Noss and Aston Villa's Tyreik Wright, who missed the defeat in Montenegro last month.
Republic of Ireland: Brian Maher; Lee O'Connor, Jake O'Brien, Mark McGuinness, Joel Bagan; Conor Coventry, Gavin Kilkenny, Conor Noss; Will Smallbone, Tyreik Wright, Colm Whelan.
