O’neill needs the luck of the Irish!
KAZAKHSTAN v REP OF IRE Friday – Kick-off 5pm STRIKE STAR ANDY GIVES HIS BOSS A LITTLE NUDGE
MARTIN O’NEILL is hoping for the rub of the GREEN to avoid a crop of World Cup walking wounded.
The Black Cats boss will be having kittens this week with Sunderland making up almost half the Republic side for Friday’s World Cup qualifier in far-flung Kazakhstan.
The former Russian territory is famously home to Sacha Baron Cohen’s classic non-PC comedy character Borat.
But the Republic’s visit will be no laughing matter for O’Neill, who could see his Premier League plans thrown into disarray if his stars return crocked.
Wearside quartet John O’Shea, Keiren Westwood, James McClean and David Meyler are all set to start as Giovanni Trapattoni’s men start out on the road to redemption after their nightmare in the Euro 2012 finals, where they lost all three games and defender Sean St Ledger scored their only goal.
Flying
O’Neill also loses Adam Johnson to England, so will be keeping everything crossed that his troops come back unscathed.
The Sunderland boss admitted: “I’d prefer that nobody played during that break, but I’m well aware that international football takes precedence.
“As a club manager, all you do is just worry for about a fortnight until the players come back.”
After Damien Duff hung up his boots at the top level, flying Sunderland winger McClean is set for his first international start in the Kazakhstan capital Astana – even if it is out of position behind the front two.
Veteran Ireland coach Trapattoni said: “Maybe in Kazakhstan McClean will play up with the two strikers. If that’s what I decide to go with I know it’s not a problem for him.”
McClean impressed in his new role in last month’s friendly against Serbia, and Trap added: “It’s not a position he’s used to, but it’s clear he can do job for us if needed.”
Former Manchester United defender O’Shea is a fixture in the side, keeper Westwood has taken over as Irish number one from Shay Given, and Cork-born Meyler has replaced Everton’s Darron Gibson in the squad.
Disastrous
The 23-year-old Sunderland midfielder is making up for lost time after suffering two careerthreatening knee injuries. He said: “I’m just so happy to be called into the Irish squad. Without doubt, it’s the biggest moment of my career.”
Despite a disastrous summer at the Euros, the Republic are hot favourites to take all three points towards their quest to make it to the 2014 finals in Brazil, as they come up against a side ranked a lowly 145th in the world.
Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady and well-travelled striker Robbie Keane linked up with the squad yesterday after being granted more time to recover after their long-haul trips from Spartak Moscow and Los Angeles Galaxy.