RALLYING CALL

McCarthy urges troops to chase win in Slovakia

MICK McCARTHY has called on his Ireland players to stoke up a head of momentum in Slovakia in pursuit of a coveted place at the Euro 2020 finals.

The Ireland manager is adamant victory in Bratislava on March 26 can provide the platform for a second away victory five days later.

‘The first one (play-off) is the key. If we win the first one, I think we’ll win the second one. We’ll get momentum, and we’ll go and win the second one,’ predicted McCarthy yesterday. ‘We’ve got to believe we can qualify but we’ve got to beat Slovakia first and they are no mugs.’

If fate were to decree a winner-takes-all showdown against Northern Ireland in Belfast on March 31, McCarthy would welcome it.

‘I’m not going to be intimidated going to Windsor Park. And I don’t think the players are going to be, if that’s where we end up going.’

McCarthy has moved on from the near-miss in the regular qualification and will rely on experience when he names his squad on March 16, just 10 days before the Slovakia shoot-out. Teenager

Troy Parrott is set to miss out after failing to secure a loan move from Spurs in the transfer window. ‘MK Dons wanted Troy, Charlton were almost over the line with a deal until it was learnt Troy would be classed as a foreign player for two years. ‘I’m sad and frustrated for him because he would have benefited from playing proper games.’ But midfield warrior Glenn Whelan is set to play in Slovakia, after slotting into League One action with Fleetwood Town. ‘I’m not teaching Glenn Whelan any new tricks. He’ll be running around just as hard in the First Division as he was anywhere else.’ Shane Long is firmly on course for a recall while McCarthy will check on the form of his namesake, James McCarthy, now at Crystal Palace, who last played for Ireland in October 2016. ‘I think because of his injuries he’s probably been a little bit hesitant in coming in.’ McCarthy has no intention of dabbling with three defenders and wing-backs, even though a number of his players are familiar with the system at club level. ‘We played three at the back for 30 minutes against Switzerland and it was probably the worst we played,’ he said. ‘We’ve only four days between coming in on the Sunday and playing in Slovakia on the Thursday. There’ll not be any revolution in how we set up.’ As winds of change sweep through Irish football at administrative and executive level, McCarthy is cognisant of how much is riding on qualification. ‘I’ve been aware of it ever since I took the job. If we qualify, we’re going to be a lot better off financially and everyone will feel better. ‘The new people coming in will feel better. I’m going to feel better. That’s not just sprung into my mind, it’s been there since December 1st 2018.’