POLAND SET THE tone by putting seven past Gibraltar last month.
It was ruthless and it was emphatic, the kind of performance that Ireland so rarely seem to produce when it’s their turn against the minnow nations. A cold sweat still breaks out at the mention of Liechtenstein in 1995 or San Marino in 2007.
“It would be a good confidence boost if we could go out and get a few goals but the main thing is getting the three points,” Jeff Hendrick said yesterday, staying very much on message ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2016 qualifier.
“That’s what we’ll all be focused on.”
When all is said and done 12 months from now, the three points Ireland took home from Tbilisi in their opening game might prove to be even more important in the race for Group D’s second place.
Aiden McGeady’s 90th-minute winner against Georgia was worthy of a standing ovation and thousands of miles away, it brought Hendrick to his feet.
He wasn’t at all surprised. ”Every training session [McGeady] is doing his flicks and tricks,” he explains.
Sometimes he embarrasses a few players. It’s what he does and he’s very good at it.
Hendrick would have loved to be in the thick of the action himself but instead he was stuck at home, recovering from the dislocated shoulder that caused him to miss five games for Derby County as well as the international break.
The silver lining was that he didn’t need surgery and once he came to terms with an injury that didn’t directly affect his ability to move around or kick a ball, he was on the mend.
“I’ve never had an injury like that so it’s sort of a weird feeling.
“Thankfully I didn’t need the op there and then. The main thing was to get a bit of rehab on it and get back in training. It’s fine now.
I fell on it a lot of times, I’ve got knocks on it, and it has been alright. I’ve stayed lucky so hopefully it doesn’t come out again.
In his absence, Derby carried over their form from last season to put themselves firmly in the promotion picture. After coming off the bench in the win against Bournemouth last week, Hendrick got another run-out in Saturday’s draw with Millwall.
If he had a bit more game time under his belt, there would be a strong case for his inclusion against Gibraltar — and maybe even Germany — in place of the injured James McCarthy.
Martin O’Neill spotted a couple of players huffing and puffing during yesterday’s session in Malahide and afterwards, Hendrick held his hand up and took his extra homework on the chin.
“I don’t know many players who like doing the extra running but it’s got to be done.
“It will benefit us all… but I’m glad that it’s over.”
If he gets the nod on Saturday, it will all be worthwhile.
