International

O’Neill: McGeady still has a role to play

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Aiden McgeadyMartin O’Neill won’t be afraid to call on Aiden McGeady to face Germany despite the Everton man’s lack of first team action.

McGeady has only played 45 minutes of club football this season- away to Barnsley in the Capital One Cup- but remains part of Ireland’s Euro 2016 plans.

With two matches to go O’Neill’s side are four points clear of Scotland knowing that a win at home to Germany or in Poland will ensure a play-off spot regardless of how Gordon Strachan’s side fare in their final matches.

McGeady got Ireland off to the perfect start in the qualifying campaign scoring a double in the opening match away to Georgia with his international boss believing that he may still have a role to play in the closing matches.

I wouldn’t dismiss somebody with that talent,” O’Neill said. “The fact is that if Aiden was fully fit, there’s a fairly decent chance he would be in the side. It’s just trying to get that sort of fitness again but a little cameo role by him, 25 minutes or half an hour, you never know, might make the difference in a game.”

A year ago Ireland drew 1-1 in Germany against the world champions but since then their campaign has faltered with Georgia and Gibralter the only teams that have been beaten.

While taking on the Germans the Scotland v Poland match will be closely followed with O’Neill happy to accept a play off spot regardless of how it comes around.

A win for Poland at Hampden would give Ireland a play-off place with O’Neill not fussy about how his side negotiate their way out of the group.

If you were saying would I take the play-offs now, there’s no point in beating around the bush — yeah,” he answered. “Whatever way you get into the play-offs, I’d take getting into the play-offs, regardless of who we play.”

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