AIDEN MCGEADY WAS the notable absentee from Ireland’s final training session before the biggest game of their Euro 2016 campaign.
The squad was put through its paces at Malahide this morning ahead of tomorrow’s qualifier against Scotland but Everton winger McGeady took his place in the dug-out as he is nursing an ongoing hamstring problem.
“He sat out training today as he is a bit sore in a few things that he was doing,” O’Neill said. “He didn’t feel too bad on Sunday but he’s a little bit sore so we will see how he is. It is precautionary more than anything else.
“I think it’s an ongoing problem he has had for a considerable time.”
The loss of McGeady would be a significant blow to Ireland as the 29-year-old winger has been a regular in the team since O’Neill’s arrival in 2013. If he was to miss out, the wide positions would most likely be filled by Jon Walters and James McClean.
However, the Ireland boss says he will wait until the last moment before making the call.
“Taking a gamble would be very much with Aiden,” O’Neill said. “If he feels like he is ready to go and start a game then that is what we would look at. If he feels as if he can participate in some of the match, I will give him as much time as I can because he has been a very important player for us in this qualifying campaign.
Aiden is a very fine player and has been terrific for us in this competition,” he added. “Perhaps in the last game against Poland I don’t think he was very fit and that showed a little bit.
“At his very best he is capable of unlocking any defence so he is an important player for us.”
O’Neill was also asked about captain Robbie Keane, who has been dealing with the death of his two cousins after an industrial accident in Portmarnock earlier this week.
“He is not feeling great at the minute,” he said of the LA Galaxy striker, who is unlikely to feature tomorrow. “He is quite down at the moment but I’m hoping that he will come around and if he feels like he wants to participate in the game tomorrow, then it’s entirely his decision.”
