TAKING THE MICK

WHILE peripheral ‘contenders’ like Jurgen Klinsmann and Carlos Queiroz float in and swiftly out of the wider conversation, all roads still lead to one man.

The Martin O’neill succession stakes has so far shaped up as a showdown between two interested parties.

For some, it is hard to escape the feeling it is really a one-horse race with a stalking horse in tow.

But try telling that to people in Dundalk and to those close to the club itself, people who were initially at ease with talk of Stephen Kenny and the Ireland job.

But 24 hours later, there is concern among the Lilywhite faithful as they know their manager would struggle to turn down the job were it ever offered to him.

Unlike Chris Hughton yesterday, Kenny won’t be ruled out of the equation – at least not until the “narrow field” of candidates are sounded out by the end of the week.

Mick Mccarthy remains the FAI’S clear No.1 target and nothing that has happened since O’neill’s departure has changed that.

Both the Mccarthy camp and the FAI’S key decision makers are aware and comfortable with their respective interest in filling the vacancy.

Yesterday, as Kenny ruled himself in, Hughton became the most high profile of those initially linked to rule himself out.

It was always a long shot that the Brighton boss would ever contemplate swapping the Premier League for an Irish team struggling with its identity.

Asked if the vacancy ever floated his boat, the former Irish international defender said: “No. I’ve got a group of players who have worked very hard to get into this division, and certainly that’s where all my thoughts and concentrations are.”

Quizzed on the issues facing the Irish team right now, Hughton continued:

“I 1/10 59 Barnsley

LATEST ODDS: PLACE OF BIRTH:

2 Football League Championships Mccarthy played for Barnsley, Man City, Celtic, Lyon and Millwall, making 505 senior appearances in all. His only playing honours were a Scottish title and two Scottish Cups at Celtic.

HONOURS:

DID YOU KNOW? AGE:

think it’s probably the normal challenges that come with international football.

“You are always going to get periods of time when the squad is particularly strong but over the last few years there have been changing dynamics of the squad.

“At international level it is always about qualifying for major championships and that will be the job for the next manager.”

That won’t be Carlos Queiroz. Mirror Sport understands that the ex-manchester United assistant who steered Iran to the last two World Cups is not a serious contender. Germany legend and EX-USA manager Klinsmann was the latest outsider doing the rounds yesterday but is deemed just that.

Reports in England claim Sam Allardyce – controversially a one-game wonder as Three Lions bosshas indicated that he would consider the job were he approached.

Allardyce is available after leaving

Everton at the end of last season but his style of play would be deemed too similar to

O’neill’s.

Outside of Mccarthy and Kenny, Hibernian boss Neil Lennon would have his supporters and will be quizzed as such at his weekly press conference later today.

As for the Ireland players, they continue to watch the unfolding developments with interest.

“Hopefully it’s an exciting time. Hopefully, with the right man in place, he can get the quality out that is within the squad,” said the Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane (left).

On Newstalk, the Cork man launched a robust defence of the squad. Hourihane added: “You’re telling me that Northern Ireland have a better squad than us and they can only play some good football? Definitely not.

“We, as players, want to showcase the quality that we have. It’s hurtful – it’s not nice to hear people say it is a terrible squad. There is quality in that squad, without a shadow of a doubt.”

Barring a sudden veering off course, it will be Mccarthy tasked with unlocking it.

THE LOWDOWN

SEAN MAGUIRE’S hamstring injury is worse than first feared.

Axed Ireland boss Martin O’neill felt the Preston North End striker (right) would be sidelined for three or four weeks.

But the Championship club are now claiming it will be the New Year before the former Cork City goal machine returns.

Maguire suffered his fourth hamstring injury in a year just 12 minutes after coming off the bench in Ireland’s grim 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland.

“I don’t think we’ll see Sean until January which is disappointing,” said North End boss Alex Neil yesterday.

“Him coming back – although he didn’t feature