Glenn Whelan made a surprise return to the Republic of Ireland squad last night with the Stoke City midfielder travelling to Dublin after successfully coming through a light training session earlier in the day at his club.
The 30-year-old Dubliner fractured his leg while playing against Germany last month and was initially said to be out for six weeks by manager Mark Hughes, a timeframe that clearly ruled him out of Friday night’s game against Scotland.
Whelan remained determined that he could defy the odds and recover in time. However, after he failed to make even the bench for the win over Tottenham in White Hart Lane at the weekend, Martin O’Neill appeared to have given up on the midfielder and proceeded to name his squad, with association officials confirming on Sunday night that the player had been ruled out.
However, having come through a session with Stoke City’s coaching staff yesterday, Whelan contacted O’Neill to say he still felt he was on course to be available, and the Derry man added him to the squad.
Whelan, who was always central to Giovanni Trapattoni's plans, is now likely to follow a tailored programme of rehabilitation over the next couple of days before a final call is made on whether he really is in a position to play a part at Celtic Park.
It seems unlikely he will be involved given that he has not kicked a ball since he limped out of the game in Gelsenkirchen; but given the value O’Neill places on his players being match fit, it says something about the extent to which he rates him that he has been prepared to have him come in at all.
One suspects the midfielder mus also have had a bit of persuading to do back at his club before being allowed to go by Hughes.
Hamstring problem
O’Neill received mixed news on other fronts yesterday with Marc Wilson and Keiren Westwood ruled out of the game due to injury but James McCarthy was cleared to travel by Everton, although there is lingering concern about the hamstring problem that was causing him difficulties during and after their draw with Sunderland at the weekend.
The loss of Wilson will be keenly felt given the lack of really strong options in that department, but McCarthy’s involvement will be a boost, with the midfielder looking like he will be able to feature against the country of his birth.
O'Neill, meanwhile, brought in both Cyrus Christie and David McGoldrick for the first time after the paperwork relating to their eligibility was completed at the end of the last week. Neither seems likely to feature in the game against Scotland but both could make debuts against the United States next week and the manager seemed especially taken with the Derby full-back who, at 22, has shown real promise in his 18 games this season.
Push forward
With his willingness to push forward and help create scoring opportunities, Christie is an exciting talent, with the manager comparing him to Seamus Coleman.
Christie said on Twitter that he was “delighted” to be coming in for what he expects to be a “great experience”.
McGoldrick, meanwhile, adds to O’Neill’s options up front, although he has little chance of him dislodging team captain Robbie Keane in the immediate future with the Dubliner turning in another strong display for his club on Sunday night when he scored one and had a hand in three more of LA Galaxy’s five goals against Real Salt Lake in the first round of the MLS play-offs.
Rate of improvement
It is hoped, though, that McGoldrick will maintain the rate of improvement he has shown this season for Mick McCarthy’s promotion-chasing Ipswich Town, where he has struck up a good working relationship with Daryl Murphy.
The 26-year-old had reportedly turned down an approach from Gordon Strachan to play for Scotland in the past.
Conor Sammon, who is on loan at Ipswich from Derby, was among the players to lose out as O’Neill trimmed his squad yesterday.
Despite the absence of Wilson on this occasion, Damien Delaney again failed to make the squad, while Stephen Kelly was also omitted.
