Ireland’s first game of the new season is an international derby. They will face Wales in Cardiff on Thursday 6 September, kick-off 7.45pm, in the first match of the new Nations League tournament. Ireland and Wales are in League B Group Four of the tournament, along with Denmark.

Each team will play each other home and away before the end of 2018. The winners of each three-team group will get an extra chance to earn a spot in the 2020 UEFA European Championships via qualification Play-Offs and will be promoted to League A for the next Nations League competition.

After the clash with Wales, Ireland will travel to Wroclaw in Poland for an international friendly. That match will be played on Tuesday 11 September, kick-off 7.45pm UK time.

Alan will be looking to build on a good end to the last international season. He earned three caps in the first half of 2018 after returning from a serious broken leg. He has played in Ireland’s last three games, the last of which was against the United States of America. On that occasion, he scored the winning goal – his first for his country – as he earned his fourth cap. Alan has also played for his country at Under-17, Under-18, Under-19, Under-21 and Under-23 level.