Under-21 tournamentA new era for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s starts this morning when manager Don Givens leads his new-look side out in the opening game of the Madeira International Tournament.

The generation that produced Andy Reid and Liam Miller is now too old for under-21 football, but they have been replaced by a group that also enjoyed success under the tutelage of Brian Kerr.

While Reid and Miller picked up European Under-16 championship winners' medals, the new under-21s were a more resilient side as they became the only Irish side to qualify for both the European Under-16 and Under-19 Championships, as well as the World Youth Championships.

While a few were involved last season, the majority are new to the squad and Givens is hopeful they can adapt quickly as Ireland prepare for the European Championship qualifiers which begin in September.

"The majority of the players have not been involved before, but you always get that with a new crop. Hopefully, we can have some success," said Givens.

The manager's hands have been tied somewhat in the build-up to the tournament with six withdrawals and a further seven players left out because of injury and club commitments. But Givens believes the carrot of a regular place in the team will spur on their replacements.

"We're without a good dozen who would normally be in the squad, but it's a chance for some of the younger ones and some of the fringe ones to stake a claim," he said. "It will be a test for the whole group, playing three games in four days. They will be good opposition, very good technically, and it will be interesting to see how we cope with their quality and what we can do ourselves."

IRELAND UNDER-21: Henderson (Aston Villa); Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), Paisley (Longford Town), Kohlmann (Borrussia Dortmund); Flood (Manchester City), Keegan (Leeds United), Whelan (Manchester City), Foley (Liverpool); Doyle (Cork City), Yeates (Tottenham Hotspur).

Portugal v Rep of Ireland

Madeira, today, 11.0 a.m.