Martin O’Neill thinks Shane Long will take the pressure associated with his €15 million move to Southampton in his stride but believes setting a target for the season would help the Tipperary man bridge the gap from being a scorer of great goals to a great scorer of goals.

Robbie Keane has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Serbia in a friendly in Dublin on March 5.

Aiden McGeady’s difficulty could turn out to be Anthony Pilkington’s opportunity, as the winger’s withdrawal from the Irish squad is sure to prompt some deep thinking by Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of next Friday’s World Cup clash with Sweden.

Norwich 2 Sunderland 1

JOEY BARTON hit out at a “ridiculous decision” to send him off in QPR’s loss to Norwich at Loftus Road yesterday for an apparent headbutt on Bradley Johnson.