Georgia v Republic of Ireland preview: Jon Walters fit for visitors
Saturday 2 September 2017 17:06, UK
Jon Walters is expected to be fit for Republic of Ireland when they face Georgia in their Group D World Cup Qualifier on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football.
The striker only started training fully on Wednesday after injuring his ankle in Burnley's EFL Cup win over Blackburn Rovers last week.
But manager Martin O'Neill says Walters "looks good" and his return will be a "great boost" for Ireland as they look to strengthen their qualification bid.
"He has been so important to us in the last few years and I'm delighted that Jon has a chance of playing tomorrow," added O'Neill.
Ireland are level on 12 points at the top of Group D with Serbia, ahead of a showdown between the two teams in Dublin on Tuesday.
Live WCQ
Ireland have won three and drawn three of their six group matches and won the reverse fixture against Georgia 1-0 in October last year.
That was Ireland's eighth win against Georgia from eight matches, but O'Neill is expecting a tough test in Tbilisi on Saturday.
"It's not going to be easy at all," he said. "Yes we do have eight wins out of eight against Georgia, but that has no bearing.
"Georgia could easily have beaten Serbia here, they played well against Wales in Wales and very well against us in the first half in Dublin. This is going to be a very difficult game for us.
"They are a good side with good players, they are very technically adept. Yet I hope that we can make it a very difficult game for Georgia too."
Team news
Walters and Sunderland defender John O'Shea should both be fit to start for Ireland after training in the week.
Ipswich striker David McGoldrick misses out for personal reasons and Jeff Hendrick, Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are out injured.
Georgia are without Nika Kacharava and Tornike Okriashvili while Giorgi Makaridze could replace Giorgi Loria in goal.
Opta stats
This will be Ireland's first away game against Georgia since September 2014, when Aiden McGeady completed his brace with a 90th minute winner (2-1).
Ireland have scored at least two goals in six of their eight games against Georgia, although in neither of the most recent two (both 1-0).
The Boys in Green are unbeaten in their last seven World Cup qualifiers, dating back to October 2013 (W4 D3).
Ireland are also unbeaten in their last four competitive away games, winning each of the last two (D2).
James McClean has scored three of Ireland's last four goals in 2018 World Cup qualifying, with Jonathan Walters netting the other.
Georgia are winless in their last 13 World Cup qualifiers (D5 L8), since a 1-0 victory over Belarus back in September 2012.
Betting
Ireland are Sky Bet's 4/5 favourites for the victory with Georgia 4/1 to put a dent in their qualification hopes by claiming the points and 23/10 to hold out for a draw. The visitors are 4/7 to book their place in Russia but 400/1 to go on to lift the trophy. Jon Walters and Shane Long share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 apiece with Giorgi Kvilitaia considered the hosts' main threat at 15/2.
