O’Neill shrugs off crash talk, insists Ireland in good shape for Scotland

Martin O’Neill shrugged off questions about Monday evening’s car accident on the M50 after training on Tuesday morning with the Republic of Ireland manager acknowledging that the incident had given those in Roy Keane’s car a jolt but insisting that he emerged from the incident in good shape.

“We’re fine, we’re fine, I’ll survive anyway,” he said after the squad’s latest session at Malahide. “We just got shunted from the back. I speak for myself but I’m feeling not too bad.”

Members of the Irish management team found themselves sitting in the hard shoulder waiting for the emergency services to arrive near the motorway’s Blanchardstown exit.

There was some concern for the driver of the other, much smaller car although everyone, it seems, was fine afterwards and O’Neill seemed entirely happy to get back to the preparations for Saturday’s encounter with Scotland.

Harry Arter looks to be the main injury concern ahead of the game at this point. The Bournemouth midfielder, who did well after coming on against England at the weekend, is struggling with a hip and groin problem that required further assessment, the manager said.

Paul McShane also took things easy due to a toe injury while a couple of senior players, including John O'Shea and Robbie Keane spent some time in the gym before the main part of the session got started.

Harry is away to be assessed,” said O’Neill. “It’s a shame because when he came on, I thought he had done very well indeed and he is starting to grow into this I think. Naturally in the course of the next few months, his time with Bournemouth in the Premier Division will stand him in good stead. He made a very decent impression when he came on so I’m a wee bit disappointed that he’s picked up this injury but we’ll see how it goes over the next few days.

“Robbie’s not too bad,” he continued. “He had a long flight, got in and I think he played the full game (at the weekend when they were beaten by Vancouver). I don’t think he was expecting to play the full game but he stayed on the field as they were losing. But he’s feeling not so bad now. It might take him a day to get sorted out but he’s not too bad.”

Asked about his team for Saturday’s game, the northerner said that it was beginning to take shape in his head but that there remains some potential for things to change over the next couple of days.

“We have training sessions to negotiate and anything might happen during the course of time,” he said. “Of course you start to formulate your thoughts and plans closer to the time but I think in this squad, where players have a really great attitude, I always think there is room for people to (work their way into things).

“I have an idea of the team but there is plenty of time between now and Saturday.”