Kevin Kilbane admits he initially was a little bit baffled by Wes Hoolahan's absence from Ireland's starting line-up for yesterday's defeat in Poland.

The playmaker came on a second half substitute during the 2-1 loss, having impressed against Germany a few days previously.

"I didn't quite understand the Wes Hoolahan thing," said Kilbane on Off The Ball tonight.

"He was our best player in possession I felt the other night against Germany. I thought he did really well holding onto the ball at times and he just allowed the team to get a little bit of a breather. So that one baffled me a little bit really."

Kilbane also echoed Kenny Cunnignham's point about James McCarthy as the holding player, saying that he would not have started with Glenn Whelan as happened on Thursday against Germany. 

But he expects the Stoke midfielder to start the first playoff match given that the experienced Jon Walters and captain John O'Shea are suspended.