Boost for Ireland as Shane Long on mend for Bosnia game

Martin O’Neill has received a huge boost with the news that Shane Long is winning his battle to be fit for Ireland’s European Championship play-off against Bosnia next month.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has delivered a positive bulletin on the fitness of Long who was stretchered off with an ankle injury during the 2-1 defeat to Poland in Warsaw. Although the striker will miss a second successive match for the Saints when they face Liverpool tomorrow, Koeman expects him to be available for the derby against Bournemouth on November 1.

“Shane Long is still out at the moment,” said the manager, “but he is progressing well.”