The scouting report for next week's meeting between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland kicked off on the unfamiliar neutral territory of Merseyside.

On the kind of wild, blustery night which must have reminded them of home, Gordon Strachan took his seat at Goodison Park as Everton boss Roberto Martinez named three products of the West of Scotland in his starting XI for this Europa League meeting with Lille. Unfortunately, the Scotland boss can call upon only one of them next Friday. He simply has to worry about the other two.

Steven Naismith, from Irvine, was flanked by Paisley-born Aiden McGeady, while James McCarthy was the only true Glaswegian of the bunch. While we were at it, Darron Gibson, a potential central midfield starter for the Republic, came off the bench for the last 20 minutes while there was no sign at all of Seamus Coleman, the man who combines with Leighton Baines to form what may be the best tandem of full backs in English football.

Coleman, so the word goes, was simply rested but so integral are Everton's contingent to their respective international sides that Strachan and O'Neill must have been flinching at every single 50/50. Which, given the way they all play, was quite a lot. All three have another game to get through unscathed - Everton visit Sunderland on Premier League duty on Sunday - before they can play any part at Celtic Park a week on Friday.

LOSC Lille are known as Les Dogues, or the Mastiffs, and it was certainly dog eat dog in the crowded midfield last night. Within minutes Naismith, occupying the same role off the front which he will almost certainly take up behind Steven Fletcher in a week's time, had flagged himself up as a threat with an instant cushioned pass to Romelu Lukaku, with Vincent Enyeama saving smartly. Three times in the next ten minutes he would be dumped on his backside.

But it was Lille who were left licking their wounds, with no little thanks from Everton's Celtic triangle. Because as heartening as the form of Naismith is, the displays of McGeady and McCarthy provide plenty of reasons to be fearful.

Next Friday night promises to be quite a homecoming for these two adopted Irishmen. While they may be jeered at Celtic Park, at Goodison last night, with the game won comfortably, both men were afforded a standing ovation as they were replaced before the end. Scotland really will be in trouble if the same transpires on Friday night.

McGeady hasn't always delighted his managers but he was at full gas last night. He had full back Pape Soare on toast down the right, winning one free kick early on and whipping the delivery on to the head of Naismith, who couldn't quite direct it on target. Next to be embarrassed was Simon Kjaer, the Danish centre half once rated one of the finest defenders in the world. Naismith would surely have bulged the net with a header had Lukaku not got in his way.

McCarthy meanwhile simply went about his business the same diligent way he has since he made his Hamilton Accies debut as a 15-year-old. Most of the time it was the decisive, if unflashy, meat and drink of keeping his team in possession but there was a glimpse of what he has in his locker when he swept a 50-yard pass from the right back area directly onto McGeady's chest. Many SPFL players would have knocked it out for a throw.

So telepathic is the understanding between these three Celtic cousins that it is hard to imagine them as co-combatants in a week's time. Ironically, a rare miscommunication led to the opener, McCarthy feeding McGeady, then bursting into the box, only for both he and Naismith to miss his delivery. The lurking Leon Osman didn't, taking a touch before firing the ball in. McGeady's second assist of the night came with a corner met firmly by Phil Jagielka.

Naismith had forced one fine save from Enyeama before the sublime finish which topped his night. There was no Irish involvement this time, Lukaku and Baines doing the dirty work before he found a pocket of space, cushioned the ball on his left then directed it high into Enyeama's top corner.

Given the kind of treatment potentially heading the way of McCarthy and McGeady next Friday on the occasion of Lille's 100th match in European football was Divock Origi, currerntly registered to a club that plays its football across Stanley Park. But he was a non factor as Everton maintained their leadership of Group H.

Celtic were once famed for the team of players from Glasgow and the surrounding area which earned European Cup glory in 1967. Regardless of what transpires on Friday night, it would be nice to think that Everton and their posse of players from the West of Scotland could all be successful in Europe this season.