MARTIN: DO NOT TURK IT TOO BADLY IF YOU FLOP

MARTIN O’NEILL put his new look squad at ease by insisting it ‘won’t be the end of the world’ if they fail to sparkle in the sun this week.

After the dismal World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark in November, Republic of Ireland boss O’neill is back on the horse in Turkey.

He has seen Wes Hoolahan and Daryl Murphy retire while other first-team players like Darren Randolph are sitting out this training camp and Friday’s friendly against the Turks.

With no World Cup to plan for this summer, O’neill intends to run the rule over newcomers and fringe players ahead of the Nations League and Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Uncapped players like Declan Rice, Scott Hogan, Kieran O’hara, Matt Doherty, Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams and Enda Stevens will all hope to stake a claim for bigger things. Others like Conor Hourihane, Alan Browne, Eunan O’kane, Daryl Horgan and Alex Pearce hope to force their way further up the pecking order.

Speaking generally of his options going into Friday’s match, O’neill said: “Everyone has to be under pressure at some stage or another.

“But if it didn’t go well for them in this game, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

“Some of the senior players have retired and others might materialise over the next couple of months so there’s a freshness now about the side.

“But I wouldn’t want to mistake freshness just for thinking that’s an immediate improvement in the side.

“These players have got to prove themselves.

“But we’ve got this match, we’ve got the game against France in May in which you would want to put up a show and we’ve the USA game in June.”

O’neill is particularly keen to run the rule over West Ham teenager Declan Rice, who played yesterday’s training game in Belek in midfield.

He has made 24 appearances for the Hammers this season in defence but his versatility will be an asset.

Still, until Londoner Rice (inset) is capped in a competitive game and therefore cannot switch, O’neill will assume nothing is nailed down.

“I would wait for his total commitment. I’m not saying he’s not. I’m just saying, be careful on these things. Some things might happen.

“And while we want to do our very best to do that, the decision will be up to him and his family.

“He’s been pretty comfortable here and while he’s still got that nice shyness about him, he can speak up for himself as well so he’s fine.”