Ireland rumoured to release new jersey this summer with a change from Umbro

After 23 years, the Irish fans - if no-one else - are owed a little change.

It's nice to have a new kit to look forward to. It's nice to see new designs and new makes that what will become iconic pieces of clothing one day. And, to be honest, if anyone was at the Aviva for either game last week, you'd forgive us for getting overly excited about some knitwear rather than any of the ball. The country's senior football team are reported to be set for a change in jersey maker that will see them play out the final four games of the World Cup qualifying campaign in a brand new kit. According to the Independent, American supplier New Balance are set to take over from Umbro as the Republic of Ireland's kit maker in August. That would mean that, after the Austria game in June, Martin O'Neill and his team's remaining competitive fixtures in 2017 will be played in New Balance gear.

• Georgia v Ireland (September 2)
• Ireland v Serbia (September 5)
• Ireland v Moldova (October 6)
• Wales v Ireland (October 9)

New Balance are current suppliers of Liverpool and Celtic and they're doing a fine job so far. The Celtic geansai is even better. So nice, in fact, that even James McClean wears it on his days off. Of course, it's that time of the season to start looking ahead to the next campaign - again, not for the football, the kits. The strip Liverpool are said to be sporting next year in 2017/18 is a bit of a dream. Ireland were only just kitted out with a new jersey last summer in time for Euro 2016 and it's not a bad piece of polyester in fairness. But if the New Balance deal comes through, it will be a complete change for the country and a new make for the first time this century. And you thought there was nothing to get excited about.