Norwich City forward Wes Hoolahan's hopes of a place in the starting eleven for the Republic of Ireland against Austria in their World Cup qualifier in Dublin tonight were dashed when manager Giovanni Trapattoni announced his side.

Derby striker Conor Sammon will start in place of the injured Robbie Keane, ruled out with a calf strain. Sammon is preferred to Kevin Doyle, Simon Cox and Hoolahan, who came on as a substitute for Keane in Friday's 0-0 draw in Sweden.

Trapattoni said he took the decision not to start with Hoolahan because he sees him as an out-and-out number 10 whose best work is done in a very specific area of the pitch, while he sees Sammon's pace and physicality as weapons better suited to taming Austria.