David Meyler keen to silence bragging Tigers team-mate Andrew Robertson
Sunday’s humbling of Gibraltar by Scotland, coupled with Ireland’s draw against Poland, meant the Tartan Army moved two points clear of the fourth-placed Irish in the Group D standings.
Meyler’s Tigers’ pal Robertson is lording it over the Irish contingent at the club and the stick won’t stop unless a home victory is recorded in 10 weeks’ time.
“Andy Robertson doesn’t leave it go that they beat Ireland in November,” the Corkman told Goal.com
“He reckons the pressure is all on us now but we are looking forward to playing Scotland again.
“Shane Long’s equaliser against Poland in the last minute keeps us alive in the group and puts the emphasis on the Scotland game as we need to make sure to beat them.”
Meyler also defended his midfield rival James McCarthy in the face of criticism from former internationals Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy.
“It surprised us all,” the 25-year-old revealed. “People want to write stuff that grabs headlines but James, I thought, was terrific in the second half against Poland.
“He grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and helped us to get back into the game.
“People are always going to have opinions and are always going to have stuff to say but I read somewhere that James said it’s just water off a duck’s back so James will be fine about it.
“He’s a terrific player and he will be playing for Ireland in the middle of midfield for the next 10 or 12 years. So people will have to get used to him.”
Meanwhile Mohamed Diame will make his long-awaited return for Meyler’s Hull when the Tigers travel to Swansea tomorrow.
Hull boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that the Senegalese midfielder, signed for £3.5million from West Ham in the summer but who has been out for more than four months with a knee injury, will be involved at some stage of the match.
Bruce said: “He will be involved. Physically he’s immense, he’s terrific, but he has been out for four months with a horrible injury. He’s okay but we have to be careful with him, though we also only have eight games left. Let’s hope he stays injury-free because he had a wonderful start with us here – four goals in seven games.”
Bruce admitted that Hull, currently 15th in the table, have a tough run-in - what he referred to as “the tickly bit” of the season – but insists the side are in good form.
He added: “In the last few weeks we have played well but we have not got the results we hoped for. Now we have to make sure we turn those performances into points.”
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