Doubt over Aiden McGeady's fitness for Scotland clash

By Brendan O’Brien, Irish Examiner

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is waiting on news of Aiden McGeady, who sat out the last training session before the Saturday 5pm kick-off.

Talk of a hamstring injury was mentioned beforehand, but O’Neill refused to elaborate on what exactly the issue is.

“Yeah, he sat out training today as he is a bit sore from a few things that he was doing. He felt not too bad on Sunday (for the England game), but a little bit sore. We will see how he is, but he sat out today. It was precautionary more than anything else.”

The Irish manager did add that McGeady had been a vital player for the side in the first five games of the current campaign and that he would give the Everton winger who needed a painkilling injection to face Poland in March “as much time as he needs”.

“At his very best he is capable of unlocking any defence,” said O’Neill. “He is an important player for us.”

O’Neill clearly took issue with the suggestion that Ireland’s campaign has stuttered with defeat to Scotland and a home draw with Poland since opening wins against Georgia and Gibraltar that bookended a famous draw away to Germany.

Three late goals have been required to leave Ireland on the eight points they currently hold and O’Neill is hoping that the lessons of the side’s subdued display in Glasgow and again in Dublin against the Poles for the first 45 minutes have been well absorbed.

“Be a little less tentative,” he declared. “There is no reason for us to be tentative, absolutely no reason. Poland got a relatively early goal in the game and that takes the wind out of your sails a little while. In the second-half we were pretty much in control.”