Martin O’Neill is confident Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy will be more than capable of dealing with the hostile reception they are expected to face this Friday.
The Republic of Ireland travel to Glasgow to face the Scots in a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier, and the two Scottish-born players will likely come in for special treatment from the Celtic Park crowd
McGeady, in particular, has experienced similar situations during his time at Celtic, and the winger’s Ibrox encounters look set to stand him in good stead with some in the Scottish media helping to drum up ill feelings towards the pair.
‘Aiden’s capable of taking anything in his stride at the moment,’ O’Neill said. ‘We spoke about his maturity the last time we were together, and he has shown that now. He’s playing very well, he’s an excellent player and he’s a match-winner for us. They are very fine players and I think they are able to cope with anything that might come their way.’
In addition to McGeady, O’Neill is also delighted to be returning to an old stomping ground, but won’t let emotions get in the way of trying to grab three points in a pivotal tie in Group D.
‘Naturally, I’m delighted,’ the ex-Hoops boss said. ‘It’s a great stadium and I have had some great days there but I am not going back to Celtic. I am going back to involve myself in an international game where Scotland are going to be playing at home.
‘The game is the most important thing, the only thing in fact. Everything else is peripheral.
‘We are away and you can’t plan for [a draw]. We are going to try and win the game. You tell me how you can sit around for 90 minutes and get a draw, but if we come out of it unscathed and look forward to four out of five games at home in 2015 then that’s something to look at.’
The Ireland boss has plenty to think about ahead of Friday’s clash, with central defender Marc Wilson ruled out and likely first choice midfield pairing McCarthy and Glenn Whelan both major doubts.
McCarthy arrived in camp after suffering a hamstring strain in Everton’s draw with Sunderland on Sunday and is ‘really day-to-day’, while Stoke man Whelan is also a major doubt as he recovers from a fractured leg.
‘It’s too early to say yet. James didn’t do any training today. Glenn had a very good session yesterday with Stoke City. He has followed that up with something today but it is early yet to say,’ O’Neill said.
‘We have a decision to make [in defence]. Wilson has been very good for us in the games that we have played. He is a loss. He has been playing very well for some time but that is the nature of the game. You know that things are going to happen. Someone mentioned earlier that we lost two influential players for the Germany game. We had to play a midfielder at right-back. We have had to adjust all the time.’
New boys Cyrus Christie and David McGoldrick took part in their first training sessions, and while they are unlikely to play against the Scots, they could feature in next week’s friendly against the US.
O’Neill paid tribute to the FAI for their efforts in aligning Derby full-back Christie and Ipswich forward McGoldrick to the Irish cause, saying: ‘I’m really delighted to have them. [We’ve been looking at them for] quite some considerable time. The backroom staff at the Irish FA have done remarkably well. The two lads have been showing great willingness themselves and it is finely coming to fruition.
‘They are getting to know not only each other but the rest of the squad. This is the first day that they’ve trained. It might be asking a lot [for them to play]. The two lads have got talent, that’s the main thing.’
