O’Neill deal is on the cards

MARTIN O’Neill believes the issue of his new contract as Republic of Ireland manager will be addressed while he is ‘ hanging around Dublin’ for the Euro 2016 warm-up games later this month.

O’Neill will name his squad next Friday in Dublin for the friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia on March 25 and March 29 respectively.

As he will be about for 10 days, there will be opportunities for O’Neill and FAI chiefs to iron out talks on a new deal to cover the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

‘ We’ll be gathered together before these two games so there is plenty of time when we’re hanging around Dublin,’ he said.

O’Neill hinted he may squeeze i n another game for his players after the visit of Holland on May 27 and prior to arrival in France on June 8. Much will depend, he said, on the involvement of Irish players in the Championship play- offs and how far they progress — the Championship playoff final is on May 28. That could include Stephen Ward, David Meyler, Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Jeff Hendrick, Keir en Westwood and Aid en McGeady.

O’Neill will draw on his own experience as a player and manager rather than rely on advice from others to help prepare for Euro 2016. ‘I’ve been to a World Cup and helped a team prepare f or a UEF AC up final. I wouldn’t mind being guided by myself,’ he said.

Irish U21 midfielder Sam Byrne will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a broken leg in a training game at Everton.

PHILIP QUINN