O Neill warns Euro hopefuls to stake their claim

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has told the fringe players in his squad that they have just two games to force their way into his Euro 2016 plans.

O’Neill’s side face Switzerland and Slovakia in Dublin over the next week and the friendlies offer an opportunity to impress for several Irish hopefuls dreaming of securing a spot on the flight to the finals in France in June.

Wolves defender Matt Doherty, Bournemouth midfielder Eunan O’Kane, Birmingham’s Stephen Gleeson, Brentford midfielder Alan Judge and Aberdeen’s Jonathan Hayes are among those who will hope for a taste of the action, although for some, that will simply amount to training with the senior squad.

But with only one more game currently scheduled before the squad departs for France, a home clash with Holland on May 2, time is running out fast for latecomers to make an impression on former Leicester and Celtic boss O’Neill.

“After these two games, that means we are down then to the Dutch game – there’s a possibility of trying to organise another match as well after the Holland game, that’s something we are thinking about – but then really after these two games, it’s finalising a certain number of players and hoping they come through unscathed in the next couple of months,” O’Neill told reporters on Monday.

“But I want to see a couple of the lads. The Euros are just around the corner, you are talking about very little break-time after that and then going into the World Cup qualifiers.

“One or two players, I am quite sure, the older players, might feel as though this is their last tournament, so I just want players to be prepared and be ready so if they step into the international arena, they are not over-awed by it.”

Source http://www.brecorder.com/sports/369-football/286366-oneill-warns-euro-hopefuls-to-stake-their-claim.html