Republic of Ireland get injury boost ahead of World Cup play-off against Denmark as Jeff Hendrick is passed fit

  • Jeff Hendrick has green light for Ireland’s World Cup play-off against Denmark
  • The Burnley midfielder will return to training in Dublin on Thursday morning 
  • Hendrick started all four games at Euro 2016 and has become a mainstay

Jeff Hendrick has got the green light for the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off first leg against Denmark.

The Burnley midfielder will return to training in Dublin on Thursday morning and, barring any late mishaps, will bolster the midfield in Copenhagen on Saturday night.

A scan on Hendrick’s injured hip came back clear and the 25-year-old will be put through his paces in Abbotstown before the squad heads to Denmark.

Jeff Hendrick has got the green light for Ireland’s World Cup play-off first leg against Denmark

Jeff Hendrick has got the green light for Ireland’s World Cup play-off first leg against Denmark

With David Meyler suspended and James McCarthy still injured, the availability of Hendrick is a huge plus for manager Martin O’Neill as he fine-tunes his plans.


Hendrick started all four games at the finals of Euro 2016 and has become a mainstay of the midfield.

As further encouragement for O’Neill, left-back Stephen Ward took a full part at training on Wednesday in Abbotstown.

It means O’Neill can select three Burnley players - Hendrick, Ward and Robbie Brady - who know each other’s game so well, for battle against the Danes.

As further encouragement, left-back Stephen Ward took a full part at training on Wednesday

As further encouragement, left-back Stephen Ward took a full part at training on Wednesday

With Keiren Westwood also linking up with the squad yesterday for training, O’ Neill has 27 players, not including the suspended Meyler, to select from for Saturday evening’s game.

Only 23 can be named in the match-day squad so O’Neill has some whittling down to do. Even so, it appears likely that the team will follow the lines of the XI which won in Wales last month.

The big call is in attack where O’Neill must choose between Shane Long and Daryl Murphy to spearhead the attack.

Long has gone 28 games without a goal, in contrast to Murphy who has scored eight goals in 18 games this season, including a brace against Moldova last month. On the flip side, the Danes will be wary of Long’s electric burst of pace.

Glenn Whelan is the prime candidate for the captaincy with Seamus Coleman among those out

Glenn Whelan is the prime candidate for the captaincy with Seamus Coleman among those out

O’Neill also has to decide on a captain in the absence of Seamus Coleman, Jon Walters and the suspended Meyler.

With 83 caps, Glenn Whelan is the senior player likely to start and would appear the prime candidate for the armband.

The Danes had a scare on Wednesday when sleepy-head Nicklas Bendtner tripped and fell as he left his room to go for breakfast. The Rosenberg striker got a fright but was checked out and is okay.

Also cleared to play is Nicolai Jorgensen who has declared himself fully fit. The Feyenoord striker will play with a protective carbon fibre cast to shield the wrist he fractured on club duty last weekend.