Southampton starlet Michael Obafemi in Aviva spotlight

The Michael Obafemi eligibility question took a curious turn at FAI HQ yesterday when a member of the media assured Martin O’Neill that he had it on good authority from a well-placed source — which he said he was not at liberty to reveal — that the 18-year-old is 100% committed to choosing Ireland over Nigeria or England.

“Is that right?” the manager replied with a smile.“Oh, brilliant. You’re further on than me. That’s great.”