Coleman doubt for Ireland qualifiers

Ireland nicked a valuable point when they played Germany away previous year – John O’Shea netting an injury-time equaliser but O’Neill believes Germany are a different beast now as it came so soon after their World Cup heroics in Brazil.

“We will make a decision as late as we can, probably on the day of the game“.

“Obviously he’s very, very keen to play if he can but we’ll see”. His father was born in England and therefore he made a decision to play for England, so that’s it. It’s absolutely and utterly his and his father’s decision to do that and I left it in their hands entirely to do that.

“They’ve had what they might consider a couple of hiccups along the way, including one against us”.

“Lads, you’ll have to make your mind up about this”, he told reporters from the daily papers, “whether, as a few journalists are saying, you go and prostitute yourself about taking players who were not actually born in the country. Jack has really good talent – a really fine player and of course it is a disappointment to lose out on that, but hopefully it’s not the end of the world”.

Ireland are four points clear of Scotland in the battle for a third place play-off spot and will not need a result against the group leading Germans or Poland if Scotland fail to get at least a draw at home to the Poles on Thursday and a win over lowly Gibraltar in their final game.

He said: “I don’t think that is something the players are not used to”.

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark is definitely ruled out with a quad problem, while fellow centre-half Marc Wilson has remained at Stoke City for treatment on a calf injury, which will be assessed later in the week. “I would have no concern at all, I’d take my chances”. David Meyler, meanwhile, may well be required in midfield in which case Cyrus Christie would be first in line to replace Coleman. I don’t think it (his agent) was a factor at all. “When we qualified for the European Championship in ’88, we needed a bit of luck from Scotland, Gary Mackay scoring the goal that helped us qualify. I’ll certainly be talking to him tomorrow to see how he is”.

With Ireland due to face Germany as early asThursday, 8th October, Coleman’s fitness is in serious doubt.