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Giovanni Trapattoni backed James McCarthy to shine for Ireland following a summer of turmoil for the Wigan midfielder.
McCarthy will make his first competitive start for Ireland in Friday's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan in Astana.
The 21-year-old had been tipped to make Trapattoni's European Championship squad this summer after excelling for Wigan towards the end of last season, but he had to pull out of the reckoning after it emerged his father was suffering from cancer.
The midfielder has declared himself available for his country now, however, and his coach is backing the player to develop into a regular in the side after he impressed during last month's 0-0 draw in Serbia.
"I made four or five changes for the Serbia game and when you do that it is usually hard to achieve a result, but he showed good personality," Trapattoni said.
"I've pushed him to shout louder but he already has the ability to see the ball one second before the opponent and that's important. Now we must give him the possibility to grow. It's a big test for him."
Trapattoni rang the changes for last month's draw in Belgrade, with McCarthy, James McClean and Kieren Westwood all being given a chance to impress after the country endured a dismal Euro 2012 campaign earlier in the summer.
Although he will be without the newly retired Damien Duff and Shay Given, the Italian is convinced he can once again upset the odds and reach the finals of another major competition.
Ireland have been placed in the same group as Germany, Sweden and Austria, but the 73-year-old is convinced that the players who have replaced the retired stars are up to the challenge.
"After the game against Serbia we saw a good team spirit and enthusiasm for this new campaign," Trapattoni said. "In the past few days I saw a good approach from the players and lots of enthusiasm."
