Recording two wins from their opening European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia, Gary Breen has urged Ireland's players to remain cautious when it comes to assuming their place in Mick McCarthy's plans going forward.
"He'll drop anyone," Breen stated on Wednesday's OTB AM.
"There's no problem about that, it's not a case of 'you've played well so you're automatically going to play the next game.'
Contemplating Ireland's next European qualifier against Denmark, Breen is certain that McCarthy's loyalty to individual players will not supersede his commitment to the collective.
In the build-up to that World Cup in 2002, I don't think we're ever going to see a squad of that quality and strength again, to be honest
Playing under Mick McCarthy during the manager's first spell in charge of the Republic of Ireland, Breen also worked with McCarthy at Sunderland and Wolves.
Calling upon that first-hand experience of the Irish manager, Breen has witnessed first-hand the difficulties of falling out of, and back into, McCarthy's favour.
"You've got to have confidence in your ability when you're playing at that level," Breen believes, "because nobody is going to hold your hand when the whistle goes."
"In the build-up to that World Cup in 2002, I don't think we're ever going to see a squad of that quality and strength again, to be honest.
"I remember going to that World Cup where I was first-choice for about four or five years going into that.
"I was injured for one game and didn't play one of the games leading into the tournament before we went over, and I wasn't happy.
"Then I proved it in training and got back into the team, so that it what Mick will do.
"He won't allow any of those players that played well to just drop down a little bit in training because he's saving himself for the game.
"That won't be accepted, no chance."
After opening round wins against Gibraltar and Georgia, Ireland will next travel to Copenhagen to face Denmark before welcoming Gibraltar to Dublin.
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