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If you're on Ireland Euro 2016 watch, tonight's the perfect night to put on your green-tinted glasses

When you reach a certain age, a year flies by very quickly and already we're into the foothills o...



If you're on Ireland Euro...
Soccer

If you're on Ireland Euro 2016 watch, tonight's the perfect night to put on your green-tinted glasses

When you reach a certain age, a year flies by very quickly and already we're into the foothills of March.

All of which means Euro 2016 is just around the corner and a host of Irish players will be jostling for some of the remaining spots as Martin O'Neill puts together his list of travellers for a spot of football inter-railing around France in June.

And if you're keeping a close eye on the Irish contingent in the Premier League, tonight's the perfect night for it as a vast number of players are likely to be in action.

Both sides feature Irish men as lowly Aston Villa welcome Everton to Birmingham, with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy guaranteed to head to France if fit and very likely starters tonight.

Injury saw McCarthy miss much of December and January but he has started the past three games which is a boost.

None of which can be said of Darron Gibson, who didn't get a loan move away from Goodison Park in January and remains rooted in the fringes.

On the opposite side, Ireland's dearth of options in defence means Ciaran Clark is worth watching closely - assuming he gets game-time. Unfortunately having been a regular at the start of the campaign, even in a struggling Villa side, he has played two minutes of Premier League action in the last eight matches, spending the rest of the time, watching from the bench. 

Crystal Palace's Damien Delaney appeals a decision from the linesman during the Barclays Premier League match at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. Picture by: Tim Goode / PA Wire/Press Association Images

Chelsea, along with Leicester, are the biggest names in action tonight, but Norwich have arguably the most in-form Irishman in the Premier League in Robbie Brady.

The winger and full-back scored a brilliant goal for the Canaries two weeks ago against West Ham and has had virtually 90 minutes in every match this season, bar one game when he was subbed off 11 minutes from the end and one match against Tottenham that he was absent for.

Wes Hoolahan's rate of assists has slowed as Norwich's form has dipped but the first two-thirds of the season have yielded four goals and seven assists. The playmaker is a cert for the Ireland squad either way with the only question mark being if he definitely starts all three games at the Euros.

Sunderland and Crystal Palace's match-up also features two Irish defenders - one who will vice-captain the country in John O'Shea - and one who deserves a chance but does not seem to be overly convincing O'Neill in Damien Delaney.

The 34-year-old is a regular starter at Premier League level and has provided two assists in his last three league games despite being a centre-back which would normally make him a shoe-in for the summer.

And while Leicester may not have any Irish players, tonight West Brom will take winger James McClean to the King Power Stadium, where he will hope to get more minutes than the 72 he was afforded by Tony Pulis in the last two games.

Yesterday, Southampton manager Ronald Koeman hinted at possible involvement for the in-form Shane Long who has scored in his last two matches, but picked up a knock last time out against Chelsea.

If he does play against near neighbours Bournemouth tonight, the midfield pair of Harry Arter and Eunan O'Kane will be doing their level best to stop him.

Arter is a first team regular for the Cherries which will boost his Euros chances, while O'Kane has yet to win an Ireland cap despite receiving call-ups. But while the player has played every minute of Bournemouth's FA Cup fixtures this season, league time has been difficult to come by, with his last appearance being 10 minutes in mid January against Norwich.

That being said, manager Eddie Howe has often had him on the bench, so hopefully he gets sprung from there tonight.

Either way, O'Neill and his backroom team will have their work cut out recording all of tonight's games. 

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