Friday 14 November 2014 08:09, UK
Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill has warned his players to beware of Scotland striker Steven Fletcher in Friday night's European Qualifier.
Ireland arrive at Celtic Park on the back of a 1-1 draw against World Champions Germany in Gelsenkirchen last month.
Scotland earned a 2-2 draw on the same night away to Group D leaders Poland, and O’Neill is relishing his return to a ground where he enjoyed so much success during a five-year spell in charge of Celtic.
O’Neill signed Fletcher when he was manager of Sunderland and he reckons the form of the striker and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was key to the team’s Premier league survival.
And the Ireland manager has noted Fletcher’s recent upturn in form ahead of the eagerly-awaited match.
O’Neill said: "Steven is a very good player. I signed him for Sunderland and my own view was that his goals were instrumental in keeping the side up, as well as Simon Mignolet's performances in goal, so the two of them can take great credit for that.
"But he has had a few injury problems - he was injured for Scotland at the back end of that particular season and he has fought his way back, so he is in very good form at the moment."
O’Neill faces some tough decisions going into the game, with Darron Gibson, Stephen Quinn and Jeff Hendrick all in his thoughts.
Derby midfielder Hendrick has just eight senior caps to his name, but O'Neill is confident the 22-year-old could do a job against Scotland if he was asked to.
"He is a talented player and every single week he plays for Derby County, he is getting more experience,” O’Neill said. “But I think these type of matches will test even most experienced players.
"They will still have a nervousness about them and sometimes games like this, remarkably, the irony of it all is that young players step through it and just dismiss the nervousness and fly through the game.
"But it's a big game for everyone regardless of the number of times they have played for their country."
