NOEL KING PLAYED down concerns about squad unrest after last night’s 3-1 win against Kazakhstan.
Shane Long and James McClean both appeared to criticise the interim Ireland manager as they were left as unused substitutes for a second successive game under King.
“Cowboy!! Nuff said,” Long tweeted before kick-off while McClean said it had been “a long ten days.”
King accepted that some players were disappointed but defended his squad selection and his man-management.
How would you not be happy spending 10 days here and not playing? Try it. It’s horrendous.
He added: “I spoke to all the individual players before anything happened. They all know where I’m coming from on it, they’re all professional.
“I don’t mind if they’re unhappy. That’s life.
They may have been unhappy but not one of them sulked and not one of them didn’t perform any of the deeds that was asked of them. That’s great.
