O’Neill has his eye on drafting in more new recruits for Poland
AFTER the success of new caps David McGoldrick and Cyrus Christie, Ireland boss Martin O’Neill is seeking further recruits when the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign resumes at home to Poland on March 29.
‘One or two have come to my attention, ones I would really like to see now,’ he said after Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the USA.
‘Some others I am looking at might be a wee bit more difficult. Not that they do not want to play but they have a bit more work to do.
‘In time, we are hoping we will have a few more players ready. Will I have them ready for the game against Poland in March? I would say it will be problematic in terms of paperwork, but it does not mean they are not capable.’
O’Neill may consider a preparatory game prior to the crunch Euro 2016 qualifier against the Poles. The Sunday night showdown in Group D gives him six days to work with his players and O’Neill said he may seek another fixture on the Wednesday before.
While points on the board are vital for Euro 2016 progress, there is a World Cup sub-plot shadowing the Irish team in 2015. Seeding for the 2018 qualifying draw, in St Petersburg on July 25 next, will be shaped by all results, competitive and friendly up to the end of June. As things stand, Ireland have three games that count towards their seeding, two of them Euro qualifiers, against Poland and Scotland (June 13), as well as the friendly with England on June 7.
And O’Neill’s team could do with strong results, not just for Euro prospects, but to boost the team’s World Cup seeding
Currently, Ireland are ranked 33rd in Europe
which has the team on course to be a fourth seed for the World Cup draw. With only one team per group guaranteed to qual-ify, and a second headed for the playoffs, offs, the prospects of reaching Russia from fourth seed are not encouraging. For now, O’Neill is ocused on getting too France and that means ans e exploiting home advant tage against the Poles and Scots.
‘Next year, 2015, was a always going to decide o our destiny. Contrary to w what you may think, I don’t think we lost any self-belief in Glasgow.’ O’Neill said he pl plans to chat with the hiera hierarchy at Everton over the s spat with Roy Keane.
‘I m might speak to Bill Kenw Kenwright [chairman]. Som Sometimes you have to know all of the facts.’