O'Shea and Ebosele remain injury doubts for Ireland

Heimir Hallgrímsson is attempting to marry the need to experiment and the immediate imperative of avoiding the drop to League C.

Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, left, in conversation with Festy Ebosele during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Dara O’Shea and Festy Ebosele are fitness doubts for Ireland ahead of Thursday’s penultimate Uefa Nations League game fixture against Finland at Lansdowne Road (7.45pm).

Ipswich Town centre-back O’Shea, who was redeployed to right-back for the October matches against Finland and Greece, reported with a back injury.

Ebosele also limped out of Watford’s game against Oxford United on Friday and the pair will train for the first time in Wednesday’s final training session.

Ireland’s only win of the four games so far came in Helsinki but the player who assisted and scored in that 2-1 victory, Robbie Brady, is one of the players alongside Chiedozie Ogbene, Will Smallbone, Séamus Coleman, Shane Duffy and Adam Idah.

Heimir Hallgrímsson is attempting to marry the need to experiment – with next year’s World Cup qualifiers in mind – and the immediate imperative of avoiding the drop to League C.

A draw against Finland should condemn them to last place, with Ireland likely to be requiring a playoff in March to ensure they don’t follow the Nordic nation into relegation.

“We have found good understanding but there’s always space for better players,” said the Icelander at the start of his third window which concludes at Wembley on Sunday against England.

“Our next games are not until March so form is a factor. You cannot decide your March team in November.

“Eight of our players had games on Sunday, so this is the only training session where everybody is physically ready.

“Dara has been struggling with a back injury and Festy was taken off, so whether they can complete a 90-minute match, we’ll see after training.” Hallgrímsson admitted the late call-ups such as Ryan Manning and Matt Doherty are in contention to start.

Asked about Doherty being “snubbed” by getting axed from the original squads in the last two windows, the manager said: “He’s a nice guy - I’ve found him quite pleasant. Players should be on the pitch, saying they deserve to be here.”