VIDEO: Wes Hoolahan explains non-start controversy in Ireland v Poland game

Wes Hoolahan has confirmed that he told Martin O’Neill he was struggling, ahead of Ireland’s final European Championship group game against Poland last month, having played 90 minutes with a heel injury in the famous win over Germany in Dublin.

And the playmaker says that, under the circumstances, he didn’t want to risk letting his team-mates down by putting himself forward for a starting place in Warsaw.

The Ireland manager drew heavy flak from Eamon Dunphy, amongst other critics, for not starting Hoolahan in that match, but the player has now supported O’Neill’s explanation for not deploying him until 70 minutes into a game which Ireland eventually lost 2-1.