MARTIN O'Neill attracted the ire of the Republic of Ireland's most outspoken critic in the build-up the Scotland game earlier this week when he suggested he may be unable to accommodate Wes Hoolahan in his side away from home in future.
"That's a sacking offence," the permanently outraged Irish pundit Eamon Dunphy ranted on a radio show. "If you're humming and hawing about Wes in public that's outrageous. I'd sack him for that."
The former Celtic manager, though, will have no hesitation about fielding the attacking midfielder, and so risking even more opprobrium from the dreaded Dunphy, at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening.
The 33-year-old, who spent a brief spell on the books at Livingston at the outset of his career, is one of the Republic's most creative and dangerous players and is sure to feature prominently in the Euro 2016 qualifier in Dublin.
Russell Martin, the Scotland centre half who is Hoolahan's captain at Norwich City, believes his side has to make nullifying the considerable attacking threat posed by his club mate a priority if they are to prevail in this important Group D fixture.
"Wes is technically a very gifted footballer," said Martin. "He is totally different to anything else Ireland have got in their squad. On his day, he can be a special player, that's for sure. The way he holds onto the ball allows others to play. He will be one to look out for and make sure we do a job on him.
"I've played with him for six years at Norwich now and he's been brilliant for us. He has only really got himself into the Ireland squad in the last couple of years. It has come quite late for him. But I know he's been pushing hard for it for a long time. He enjoys going away with Ireland and he is desperate to be involved.
"Even if he only comes on for 20 or 30 minutes, he will always make something happen. We have to make sure we are alert to that. He is a really creative player and picks up nice positions. He is an intelligent footballer.
"We will go through their players and team individually before the game and I'm sure the manager might ask Steven Whittaker (the Norwich full-back) and myself a bit more about Wes. We will give him all the info we can."
Over 50,000 supporters are set to cram into the futuristic Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening to see a game which is of huge significance to both the Republic of Ireland and Scotland as they attempt to reach the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer.
Only 3,500 of those will be supporting the visitors after John Delaney, the Football Association of Ireland chief executive who has come under intense pressure to stand down after revealing his organisation had accepted "hush money" from FIFA, reneged on a public pledge to give them a fair allocation.
Martin knows Hoolahan is the sort of individual who is capable of lifting a home support which will - according to official figures at least - outnumber the followers of their opponents by nearly 15 to 1with one flash of brilliance and so giving the Republic a vital edge in what promises to be, like their previous encounter last year, a tight game.
"The Norwich fans love him," he said. "He gets bums off seats, simple as that. Sometimes you need that in a game which is a bit flat. That's the kind of thing he is capable of doing on Saturday.
"But with the kind of midfield players we've got, we are more than capable of dealing with that threat. We have players in there like Scott Brown, James Morrison and Darren Fletcher who can deal with that."
Martin, who is poised to win his 19th cap for his adopted homeland this weekend, is sure to have a testing evening himself. O'Neill appears set to recall Robbie Keane, the record Republic goalscorer who has netted no fewer than 65 goals in 139 games for his country, to his side.
The prospect doesn't unsettle the man who lead Norwich to a Championship play-off final victory over Middlesbrough, and a place in the Premier League next season worth an estimated £120 million to the Carrow Road club, at Wembley last month.
"When you play at this level they've all got top quality strikers and Ireland are the same with (Jon) Walters, (Shane) Long, (Robbie) Keane and (Daryl) Murphy," he said. "Fortunately I'm going back to the Premier League where I'm looking forward to testing myself against the top players again. Saturday will be no different."
Martin dismissed suggestions the former Wolves, Inter Milan, Spurs, Liverpool and Celtic striker, who is now 34 and playing his trade with LA Galaxy in the United States, poses significantly less of a threat than in his heyday due to his advancing years and loss of pace.
"The first yard is in your head, pretty much," he said. "He is very clever with his movement, a really talented player. I don't think I've played against him before, so if he does play it is one I will look forward to. They have other players all over the pitch who can cause problems."
This will be Martin's 57th competitive game of the 2014/15 season, but he is unconcerned about any mental or physical fatigue and is determined to finish a memorable campaign with both club and country on a high with an away victory.
"It's been quite a rise for me under Gordon Strachan," he said. "I've played in most games and I'm just hoping to play. He never gives too much away about team selection until the day of the game, but I'm hoping to play on Saturday.
"People complain about tired bodies - but not for a one-off game. It will be as intense as any game I've played this season, probably as tense as the first game against Ireland. Ireland at their place, we know what to expect, and we'll be right up for it. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully I can end the international season on another good note and then look forward to enjoying a break."
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