Keane sideshow forgotten as Glasgow cast takes centre stage

A true November evening in east Glasgow and Martin O'Neill must feel as if he is intruding on his own past. The morning began with a solemn video release of the Irish manager sitting in a plush and very large armchair reiterating his support for Roy Keane after what was probably much ado about very little in the team hotel on Wednesday evening.

Last night, he found himself in a tent on the grounds of Celtic Park, the theatre of so many of his splendid days as a football manager.

The famous ground will be atremble when Ireland and Scotland take the field after 7pm this evening but once again, O'Neill was asked about Keane's latest unwanted turn in the headlines and news reels.

"It is only a distraction," he said wearily to the man from the BBC, sitting beside Robbie Keane in the draughty tent, just yards from where the sculpted likeness of Jock Stein stared out at the blackest of city nights. Management was simpler in Stein's day in that he never had to deal with issues like this.

“I think that that is all it was,” O’ Neill continued carefully.

“Really, I have made a statement earlier on today . . . I don’t know if you have seen it. I have hardly seen it myself. And I think there is not really much more I can talk about. I think we are fine. The players are fine. I think the man in question is fine as well too and we are ready to go.”

Wednesday night’s drama illuminated just how quickly stuff travels now: what was a brief exchange in a Dublin lobby had become a news story within hours, despite the haziness of what actually happened.

Mystified

But there was no big internal upset for the Irish squad and O’Neill seemed mystified at the idea that Keane would have spoken to the players afterwards.

“Why would he do that? No. No. He spoke to me. I don’t think Robbie, as captain, was particularly interested in hearing what happened. I don’t think so anyhow. Listen, the incident is over. It was a distraction. That is really it.”

If anything, the story was the last act of what has seemed like an interminably long build-up to this hugely evocative international derby.

Scotland and Ireland is a fixture dripping with anecdote and familial history. Celtic Park gives it an ideal theatre and O’Neill sounded giddy at the thought of reacquainting himself with the stadium where he won three league titles and three Scottish Cups during six seasons of extraordinary accomplishment.

“I must admit it will be really strange to walk into the club and walk right into the away dressing room rather than left. I am not sure I have ever set foot in the away team dressing room ever. It will be strange . . . just after this, I fancy a little walk around.”

“Football, without the fans, is nothing” is the inscription under the Stein statue and that seems particularly true of this match.

Gordon Strachan is adamant that Celtic Park will become a Scottish fortress tonight despite widespread anticipation that Irish fans will use Glaswegian contacts to magic more seats than they ought to.

Tight relationship

It is early in his tenure but already O’Neill has seen for himself the extraordinarily tight relationship between the Irish team and its fans and he nods at the idea of a vociferous and visible Irish presence this evening.

“Well naturally I am hoping that will be the case – the Georgia game was amazing to see a cluster of our fans who made a lot of noise and helped us through the difficult moments.

“And in Germany, we had about 2,500 there and that was fantastic. To share that moment at the end with John’s goal was terrific. But I think the sort of support they will get tomorrow will be vocal and terrific for us. But I do take Gordon’s point.”

With Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy definitively ruled out yesterday, O’Neill will have to be imaginative in his midfield selection but grinned coyly when asked if he might offer some indication as to whether he would use Aiden McGeady in the central, advanced role in which he started against Germany.

“No. I am not going to give you any indication. There are too many Scottish supporters. But come to my room tonight!” he offered, to growing laughter.

“Please! Quarter past twelve,” he continued to general guffaws.

To O’Neill’s left, the captain smiled. Wednesday’s tensions melted away.

O’Neill departed in high humour. Behind him, the big stadium beckoned. There was, after everything, a field to be walked, a football match to be played. When all is said and done.