Georgia vs. Ireland: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Republic of Ireland's chances of scoring an early win in a bid to qualify for Euro 2016, have been made tougher by some troubling injury news. Manager Martin O'Neill will find himself without key winger James McClean.

O'Neill can add that to the concern of keeping his squad fresh after the long and daunting trip to Georgia. He could be ready to lean on the experience of ageing goalkeeper Shay Given to help out for the game in Tbilisi.

Here's all of the relevant schedule information, including start time and streaming details:

Date	Time	TV	Live Stream
Sunday, September 7	5 p.m. BST / 12 p.m. ET	Sky Sports 5	Sky Go / Watch ESPN

Sky Go. Watch ESPN.

Ireland Will Miss McClean's Width and Pace

McClean may have fallen from grace at club level, but he's a vital player player for his country. That's why O'Neill will be ruing the recent injury that has robbed the winger of optimum fitness, per Goal.com: "My concern really is, while the injury has healed up, [McClean] hasn't played that much contact football. It's not that he's picked up a fresh injury or anything like that."

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

The Ireland attack is sure to miss McClean's pace from the flanks. O'Neill loves his teams to use genuine width and pace on the break.

Without the 25-year-old Wigan Athletic man, McClean, O'Neill will instead have to rely on central midfielder James McCarthy. The Everton pass-master must lead a possession-based game designed to work through the middle in Tbilisi.

Given Back in the Spotlight

At least O'Neill doesn't have to worry about trusting the savvy Given. He may turn to the 38-year-old to tend goal after an injury ruled out Sheffield Wednesday's Keiren Westwood, per Sky Sports.

Given is certainly a steady pair of hands to have in reserve for a game of this importance. He is a perfect fit for such a difficult away trip.

However, he won't be the only experienced player at the back O'Neill will be hoping delivers.

Seamus Coleman Has a Major Role to Play

One player who could help Given settle back into the fray is Everton full-back Coleman. He is targeting a place for his nation at Euro 2016, per a report in the Irish Independent:

"

I was watching the games and I really enjoyed it, but you just want to be part of it.

Obviously I didn't play in the last European Championship, so I am definitely hungry to be part of that. That's what you want as an international player, to be on the biggest stage.

"

Coleman will be part of a defence Given will lean on, and O'Neill will trust in it to keep things tight in a tricky encounter. However, O'Neil has already hinted he will rein Coleman in from the buccaneering way he plays for Everton, per the Irish Examiner:

"

He gets himself into those sort of forward positions for club level. That’s very good. He might be asked to play differently at international level – I don’t mean just with me but maybe before – and It is a case of getting used to different surrounds.

"

Given his managerial style, O'Neill will set his team up not to lose and hope to pinch a goal or two on the break. Coleman's quickness from full-back can be an important factor in both phases of that plan.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Predicted Final Score: Georgia 0-1 Republic of Ireland

Georgia won't be easy to break down on home soil. Manager Temur Ketsbaia will have his side well organised. In forward Giorgi Chanturia, he has a player capable of causing damage with his pace.

However, O'Neill has made a career out of grinding out unfashionable results. He'll repeat the trick one more time to get Ireland off to a great start in Group D.