Robbie gets go-ahead for play-offs
FIFA last night cleared Robbie Brady to play in the World Cup play-offs. The Republic of Ireland star was under investigation for allegedly headbutting Wales captain Ashley Williams in the back during Monday’s clash in Cardiff. On Wednesday, a panel from football’s governing body studied TV footage of the incident when Brady ran past the defender on the hour mark. But they saw no infringement and Martin O’neill will be relieved as he is already without David Meyler. The play-off draw will be made in FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday
Martin O’neill will be relieved as he is already without stand-in captain David Meyler for the first-leg. The play-off draw will be made in FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday lunchtime and Ireland will land one of Italy, Croatia, Denmark or Switzerland. Meanwhile, Burnley boss Sean Dyche is refusing to put a timescale on the injury that looks certain to rule Jon Walters out of next month’s two-legged decider. It emerged this week that his recurrence of a long-standing knee problem was more serious than first feared and that he could be sidelined until Christmas. But Dyche was less definitive yesterday and said: “We’re not putting timescales on it but it won’t be days, it will be weeks. “We’re hopeful it will settle down quickly. It already is. We’re getting a specialist’s view of it and it needed a period to calm down. “It’s a historical injury, a wear-and-tear injury and needed time to calm down. Once it has settled down, it’s getting strength through the knee and that’s where we are at.” And James Mcclean has thanked Martin O’neill for taking him to the next level as an international player. The Derry man was Ireland’s hero in Cardiff, scoring the match-winner against Wales just before the hour mark. It was his fourth goal of the campaign and the talisman has made them all count as he also bagged the winner in Austria and rescued the game in Moldova with a brace. “We’ve always had a great relationship,” he told Off The Ball. “After all, he was the man at Sunderland that gave me my breakthrough across the water. “I’ll always be grateful. We’ve a good working relationship. It’s not a relationship where we go out for dinner and this and that. “We’re not best mates but we’ve a good working relationship and I can’t thank him enough for that. But the best way to thank him is to put in the best performance I can. “Luckily for me at the minute, I’m scoring goals and contributing to vital points so I’m delighted.”