GLENN WHELAN will not be scouting for Ireland this month — with Heimir Hallgrimsson clearly annoyed by the ex-midfielder’s questioning of players’ attitudes in September.
After the 2-0 defeat to Greece, Whelan questioned whether losing games with Ireland was hurting players as much as it hurt him.
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But manager Hallgrimsson declared: “I wouldn’t have done that.”
The Icelander has wielded the axe for the Nations League double-header against Finland and Greece by leaving out senior pros Matt Doherty, Alan Browne and Callum Robinson, as well as Jake O’Brien.
He instead handed a first senior call-up to Luton centre-half Mark McGuinness and recalls to Ipswich’s Jack Taylor, Finn Azaz of Middlesbrough and fit-again Josh Cullen and Mikey Johnston.
Festy Ebosele — a late call-up last month — has also been included but Séamus Coleman and Will Smallbone are injured.
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Whelan will have no role this month with Hallgrimsson addressing the criticism by the 91-times capped Dubliner — who was appointed as first-team coach at Wigan Athletic a fortnight ago.
He was part of the Ireland coaching team during John O’Shea’s interim spell in charge but, unlike the Waterford man and Paddy McCarthy, was not kept on by Hallgrimsson.
Instead, he was in Helsinki last month to watch Greece in action against Finland before they came to Dublin.
After his comments as a pundit on Virgin Media after the Greece game, Hallgrimsson has now confirmed Whelan will not scout this month.
And, while he also suggested he did not need anyone to watch England against Greece, he said: “He was scouting Greece and Finland in Greece. He’s not scouting now, no.
“I don’t know Glenn at all. I’ve never spoken to him at all. I wouldn’t know what to expect. I wouldn’t have done that.
“It’s just his opinion. You want me to comment on his opinion?
“Everybody comes to do their best and hopefully the players will stake their claim and say, ‘This is my spot, don’t give it to someone else, I’m here, I’m going to take the position and hold it for the next ten years’.
“We have a pretty young squad so now is the time to step up and be a leader. Stake your claim and own your position.
“I’ve been with them for eight days. That’s my contact time with them.
“Hopefully with me having a closer relationship with them I’ll know more in-depth.
“If he knows the players better than me, it’s a valid opinion.”
DOHERTY REACTION
Hallgrimsson confirmed Doherty was unhappy at being informed of his omission but said: “I would be unhappy with a player who is OK with not being selected.”
The Wolves player came under huge criticism for not tracking back for Greece’s second goal but international gaffer Hallgrimsson added: “I thought overall he played the way we expected him to.
“It is not a performance-based decision, it is more forward-thinking.”
