Shane Long to miss crucial Euro 2016 play-off first leg for Ireland

“Shane Long will not be involved in Friday’s first leg as he will remain at Southampton for further treatment on his ankle injury”, the FAI confirmed. “I think sometimes along the way, you have to try and go with the players that you know are available and who can actually start a game for you”. Yes, he said, he’d love one day to manage his country, but, he reminds his audience, lest they forget: “I’m still a player and I still have plenty to offer”.

Southampton forward Shane Long has been ruled out of the first leg of the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday with an ankle injury.

“It seems a wee bit unusual that, while there was definitely a doubt about Robbie on Saturday, he plays brilliantly in the game, wins the match for Newcastle and then, suddenly, he’s not fit for us – which is going to be a week later”. I wouldn’t have thought that, with the recurrence in his hamstring, he would be anywhere near available.

The mood in the camp, he said, reminded him of the build-up to the Euro 2012 play-offs against Estonia, “calm and confident, we’ve had that feeling all week in training”.

Keane said: “You ask any of the players who worked under me, I never had a problem with players going out for internationals”.

Rob Elliot has got a thigh injury. Well, when were you not? The experience has not led to success, however, as they have only qualified twice.

Squad captain Robbie Keane believed it would be “silly” for O’Neill not to be retained after a battling qualification campaign. “Our defending was very, very good”.

Neither of those appearances, like his other 15 caps, yielded a goal but now that the drought at club level has ended the mojo is back. I’m sure everyone will be fighting for a spot.

Neil Sherwin is joined by Dale O’Donnell to review the weekend’s Premier League action and discuss Ireland’s chances of beating Bosnia and Herzegovina over two legs in their upcoming playoff tie. “Sometime in the new year – probably the earlier, the better, maybe get Christmas out of the way – John and I would sit and have a discussion about it”. You can only do that by playing regularly for your club.