O’Neill expects depleted Ireland to perform

At Ireland’s training headquarters in Abbotstown yesterday, Martin O’Neill was doing a passable impression of a boxer absorbing a flurry of punishing blows before bouncing off the ropes and back onto the front foot.

More to the point, he fully expects his team to follow suit in their World Cup qualifier against Wales, even if a lengthening injury list means at least five of the starters from November’s 1-0 victory over Austria, won’t be available at the Aviva on Friday night.

Wes Hoolahan, with a thigh injury, is the latest name from that memorable night in Vienna to be added to the missing list, alongside Shane Duffy, Ciaran Clark, Harry Arter and the suspended Robbie Brady.