It will be the first time Carroll has been involved since the World Cup qualifier in Poland last October, when the burly forward was an unused substitute.
With Ashley Cole due to be presented with the 100th cap he won against Brazil in February, Roy Hodgson has not discounted the possibility of asking the Chelsea left-back if he wants to be captain against the Irish.
Cole has never shown any inclination to take on the skipper's role, still less get involved in the media obligations that come with it.
And the added complication is that Cole and club colleague Frank Lampard will not even arrive in the UK until Sunday afternoon, before heading straight to St George's Park, doubtless jet-lagged from a Transatlantic flight following the second of Chelsea's post-season friendlies against Manchester City.
It puts Wayne Rooney in pole position to carry out the role for the third time despite the difficulties he has been experiencing at Manchester United.