Four wait for a chance to fill Whelan’s boots

MARTIN O’NEILL always seems to make a point of joking about the size of the provisional squads he names weeks in advance of each match. Ahead of the friendly with Oman and opening Euro 2016 qualifier with Georgia in August the Ireland manager announced a 36-man list.

That was increased by one for the double header with Gibraltar and Germany last month. ‘I think the only player missing in the last 30 years would be Paul McGrath,’ O’Neill joked.

This time, though, in what could be seen as a nod to austerity, the provisional panel was slashed back to 36 ahead of the trip to Scotland on Friday. But, including a player with a broken leg might just be a step too far, even for O’Neill. Glenn Whelan suffered a fracture against Germany on October 14 and was ruled out for six weeks. That hasn’t stopped the Dubliner informing O’Neill he will do all he can to be on the plane to Glasgow. Eamon Dunphy may tar the 30-year-old as a mediocre mercenary who became a millionaire because his time in the game fell during the era of the Premier League, but Whelan an isn’t wired that way. He got his education ation at Manchester City (before they had money) and worked his way up the divisions ons at Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke.

When en the news broke of his injury, some celebrated the fact that the midfielder elder would miss out on this crucial l qualifier. O’Neill is giving him every chance of proving his fitness but he e is unlikely to return a fortnightght ahead of schedule.

Not only is Whelan extremely doubtful, tful, James McCarthy will return to thee centre after missing out in Germanyany through injury.

Wes Hoolahan is unavailable due to an ankle problem so some of the supposed heirs to the throne have a chance to step up. Whelan has been maligned for most of his 61 caps but now he is missing. These are the pretenders.