Don’t expect to see many of those who battled in Poland in Martin’s next key clashes
FOR those sifting through the Silesia seams last Tuesday for the likely Republic of Ireland team for the next round of Nations League matches, be warned: there weren’t many candidates in action on the Polish coalface.
At most, only four of the team which chiselled out a 1-1 draw in a low-tempo friendly in Wroclaw, will start against Denmark (October 13) and Wales (October 16) next month.
Darren Randolph, Cyrus Christie and Jeff Hendrick hold three of the places with Callum O’Dowda favourite for the fourth, pending the return of others.
What is occupying Martin O’Neill right now is how many of his walking wounded will be available to face the Danes.
There is, at least, encouraging news on Seamus Coleman, whose stress fracture is relatively minor.
The Ireland captain should be back in the Everton colours for the home game against Fulham on September 29. Failing that, Everton have an EFL Cup tie on October 2 against Southampton.
That latter fixture may be significant for another Everton player, James McCarthy, who has come back from as gruesome a leg injury as his great friend Coleman, and is pushing for game time.
Of others who missed Poland because of injury, Stephen Ward is fine but Robbie Brady and Sean Maguire have a bit of road to travel yet.
Brady has been badly missed, as much for his creativity as his attitude for big games (O’Neill will be checking out forthcoming Burnley under 23 games for Brady’s involvement).
A fully-fit Brady is nailed on for a recall. Another certainty in any O’Neill XI is James McClean, who will take time from nursing two broken bones in his wrist to co-commentate for eir Sport on today’s EA Sports Cup final between Derry City and Cobh Ramblers.
O’Neill hinted in Wroclaw that McClean might be ‘touch and go’ for the October double-header. His absence would be a huge blow as he leads by example
and would love to right the wrong of the World Cup play-offs against the Danes.
Jon Walters was rested for the trip to Poland. If he plays three or four games for Ipswich in the coming weeks, he will be leaned on for his leadership and attitude.
While most of the manager’s other props appear sturdy at the minute, he appeared to hint at concern for Shane Duffy, who has been part of the defence which shipped nine goals in the last two competitive games.
‘The last couple of performances haven’t been all that brilliant for us but overall, he [Duffy] has been a really good player so we’ll have a look at it,’ said O’Neill, who will keep on working behind the scenes to try and convince Declan Rice that the Irish camp is more Butlins than Colditz. If the West Ham teenager is on board next month, O’Neill would be less fearful of the Danes.
‘You know what? At the end of it all, everything will be dictated by who is available. Everything. So, I’ll watch the players play and then I’ll pray,’ he said.