How the Irish fared: Derby double puts Hendrick in frame to face Scots

Jeff Hendrick made a compelling case to start Friday’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland by scoring two sublime goals to help Derby to a 5-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.

The midfielder struck from long range to make it 2-0 before putting the finishing touch to a glorious flowing move to make it 4-0 as Derby returned to the top of the Championship.

The 22-year-old’s timing could hardly have been better, with Glenn Whelan highly unlikely to be fit for the trip to Celtic Park. Martin O’Neill has opted to start Stephen Quinn in both of Ireland’s away qualifiers so far but with the Hull man seeing little game time at club level, Hendrick — who came off the bench to create John O’Shea’s equaliser against Germany — will hope he has done enough to start on Friday, particularly with James McCarthy now an injury doubt.