VIDEO: Shane Long may start if anywhere close to full fitness

By Stephen Barry and Shaun Cronin

Irish Examiner soccer correspondent Liam Mackey thinks that Shane Long would be likely to start if he is anywhere close to full fitness.

Martin O’Neill watched Long and John O’Shea train today and delivered ‘encouraging, if not definitive’ news on the pair, according to Mackey.

Assistant manager Roy Keane with Shane Long at Ireland squad training in the FAI National Training Centre at Abbotstown. Photo: INPHO/Donall Farmer

“He (Long) is certainly not match-fit and who knows with the way his injury has gone, there could be a bad reaction even tomorrow.

“But if there’s any chance of getting him on the pitch, Martin O’Neill will put him out there for such a big game.”

Mackey believes that the potential inclusion of Long would be a big boost, but the game could still go down to the wire, and maybe even further…

“We might see the score from Zenica replicated in Dublin. In other words, I have a hunch that they might score and Ireland might score, and this literally could be one of those long nights…

“Ireland don’t do things easily and even with the advantage, theoretically, of the away goal, I have a feeling tomorrow could be a long night.

“It could go to extra-time. Whisper it, it could even go to penalties.”