Boost for Ireland with Long back in training
SHANE LONG has got the green light to spearhead the Republic of Ireland attack against Denmark tomorrow. Long, 31, returned to training yesterday after resting an ankle problem and his availability for the Nations League clash is a huge plus for manager Martin O’Neill. The 17-goal striker is eager to end a barren run in front of goal — he last scored for Ireland two years ago in Moldova — and remind the Danes what he’s capable after he was left out of the team for the World Cup playoffs. The Ireland squad practised a 3-5-2 formation behind closed doors yesterday as O’Neill continues to assess his tactical options for the inform Danes who have lost just once in their last 14 competitive games. Ahead of Ireland’s first meaningful fixture in Dublin for 11 months, the FAI said yesterday that 46,000 tickets have ‘gone’ out for the game. But it remains to be seen how many tickets have been sold, and how many fans will turn up as there is heavy rainfall forecast for Dublin tomorrow. Meanwhile, the FAI might be about to lose another rising star as Hearts defender Jimmy Dunne is weighing up an offer to join Michael
O’Neill’s senior Northern Ireland set-up.
As Martin O’Neill awaits an answer from Declan Rice on whether or not he’s defecting to England, another emerging talent is grappling with a similar dilemma.
Drogheda-born Dunne is eligible for the North through his grandparents and has yet been frustrated not to play a competitive game for Ireland.
It hasn’t escaped the notice of IFA chiefs that the 20-year-old is an established defender for SPL leaders Hearts on loan from Burnley.
As he’s has only played only 18 minutes of an U21 friendly against Iceland in March, Dunne doesn’t require FIFA clearance to change allegiance.
He was last night left on the bench for Ireland’s 3-1 defeat to Israel which shattered their European Championship qualification hopes.
It means he could, potentially, be part of O’Neill’s squad for Monday’s Nations League qualifier against Austria