Tragedy gives Harry Arter life perspective on Euro squad selection

Harry Arter didn’t bear the anxious look yesterday of a man awaiting big news.

The Bournemouth midfielder is one of those players for whom this week’s training in Abbotstown, and the upcoming games against the Netherlands and Belarus, will serve as final auditions before Martin O’Neill names his 23-man squad for the European Championship.

The Ireland manager admitted that central midfield was an area of particular rumination ahead of the cut-off point with Arter, Stephen Quinn and Darron Gibson among the others whose fate will be decided early next week.