Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has urged Derry duo Shane Duffy and James McClean to take their chance this week to impress Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Duffy and McClean were not in Trapattoni's original squad for the Czech Republic friendly, but are now in line to make their international debuts on Wednesday night at Lansdowne Road.
A combination of Richard Dunne's shoulder injury and impressive defensive displays for Everton in recent months has seen Duffy return to the senior international set-up.
This week will be the 20-year-old centre-back's first opportunity with the senior squad since he ruptured his hepatic artery in a training match in May 2010 and Trapattoni said yesterday that Duffy is likely to feature at some point during the Czech Republic friendly.
Fellow Derry man McClean was added to the squad last week and Trap will be hoping to see some of his impressive recent club displays for Sunderland transfer to the international stage.
"This is the last real game before the Euros it is a big chance for everyone to impress and get in the manager's final squad selection," said McGeady.
"I was actually with James coming back in the car from the airport. We just spoke briefly. The two boys came in today for the first training session. The two of them done well and will be good additions to the squad.
"You have got the chance to impress the manager in training, but game time is when it really counts. It is up to them and it is a great opportunity for them."
The Russian season does not start until the 5th of March, so McGeady's pre-season training has meant he has seen little of McClean's rapid progress in the Premiership.
McGeady said: "The last month or so I have been everywhere in training camps. I have not seen much football. I have seen bits here and there.
"From what I know he has been performing well and he looks a really good prospect. Direct and pacey.
"He looks as if he has got a good cross on him as well and a knack of scoring goals. He has been doing really well. He's obviously worthy of his call-up."
With Trapattoni saying that McClean could play on either wing, the Sunderland man's inclusion could be seen to be competition for McGeady.
However, the former Celtic midfielder welcomes any contest for his starting place and feels it can only benefit the team.
"It is the same at club level. There are always players vying for the same position," McGeady said.
"Of course if there is somebody who is going to take your place, then you up your game. I try to up my game anyway, but obviously if I do people will say it is down to someone breathing down my neck.
"The more players you have got playing at the top of their game, playing in the Premiership, then of course it is going to be healthy for the squad."
With just over three months to Ireland's opening game in Euro 2012 McGeady freely admits that the excitement of playing in his first major tournament is leading to a few restless night's.
"I wake up at night dreaming about it just," he laughed.
"You just want to get to a major finals. Now we have to make sure we stay fit and give ourselves the best possible chance to shine at the Euros.
"Everyone is absolutely buzzing for it and still on a high from last November. We are looking forward to the initial gathering at the end of May and then the championships themselves. It is going to be fantastic.
"We weren't expected to qualify and we did, but now we are there we are going to do everything we can to get out of the group. We are in a very tough group.
"Our record has been good against Italy over the last few years. We played [Croatia] not so long ago and we drew 0-0.
"Spain are obviously the favourites to win the whole competition. But it is not totally unrealistic for us to get out of the group. We have a good set of players and we are due a place in the tournament. We'll see what happens. We'll give ourselves every chance."
Kevin Doyle's 10th international goal set Ireland on the road to a comfortable victory in Andorra as Giovanni Trapattoni's men completed the first half of their European mission.
Doyle's seventh-minute strike gave Ireland an advantage they never threatened to surrender and when defender Ildefons Lima deflected Aiden McGeady's shot into his own net 13 minutes later, the points were effectively safe.
Russia's victory in Slovakia means they will win Group B if they beat the Andorrans at home on Tuesday evening, but a draw with Armenia will be enough to send the Republic into the Euro 2012 play-offs.
Ireland moved joint top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium.
Aiden McGeady's first international goal put Ireland ahead in the second minute and Robbie Keane added a second from close range midway through the half.
Macedonia responded just before half-time when Ivan Trichkovski deceived Richard Dunne and slotted past Keiren Westwood.
Ireland were dealt a severe blow when Kevin Doyle limped off early in the first half with what looked to be a serious knee injury.
There was further bad news for the home side as a caution for Dunne rules him out of the return game in Skopje in June.
The three points tonight, coupled with Russia's earlier draw in Armenia, sees Trapattoni's 'boys in green' level at top Group B with Slovakia and Russia.
Highly-rated James McCarthy was introduced as a substitute late on and received a rapturous welcome from the home crowd.
McCarthy played a crucial role, along with fellow substitute Keith Fahey, in steadying a ship that had been rocking in the second half after a bright first period.
Giovanni Trapattoni's players delivered the positive start he called for, but they were helped by some poor goalkeeping from Edin Nuredinoski.
McGeady had never scored in his previous 37 games for Ireland but he found the net less than 90 seconds into his 38th.
The winger tricked his way into space and fired low towards goal. Nuredinoski could only watch the ball go through his grasp.
The keeper looked rattled by that early mistake, as he fumbled a Damien Duff shot in the seventh minute. Fortunately for Macedonia, he gathered at the second attempt as Keane closed in.
Doyle was forced off with a serious knee injury in the 16th minute. Shane Long came on in his place, but only after a delay that had Trapattoni remonstrating with the fourth official.
The Italian had preached a shoot-on-sight policy in the build-up to the game and Nuredinoski was at fault again as Keane doubled Ireland's advantage.
Darron Gibson's free-kick from the edge of the box was fumbled into Keane's path and the skipper tapped home his 46th international goal.
Long, who has been in fine form this season for Reading, had a chance to stretch the lead. Keane flicked Kevin Foley's ball around the corner to Long, who beat Boban Grncharov but fired wide.
However, there were warnings for Ireland that they would not have it all their own way, as Trichkovski twice caused concern with long-range efforts.
It was Trichkovski who got Macedonia back in to the contest on the stroke of half-time.
The previously quiet Goran Pandev escaped from Kilbane to pick out the winger, who fooled Dunne and calmly slotted the ball past Westwood.
There was another scare for Ireland as Pandev could have levelled matters minutes into the second half, but he could not steer Goran Popov's cross on target.
Grncharov almost ruined Long's looks with a high tackle that should have brought a red card and not the yellow one issued by referee Istvan Vad.
Duff has been among the goals lately and he went close on the hour mark after McGeady picked him out at the back post.
The Fulham man was involved again minutes later as he dispossessed Popov and picked out Keane, but the skipper could not find the unmarked Long.
Macedonia passed their way back into the game by dominating possession, causing jitters in the home defence. Bookings for Dunne and Gibson were a sign of Ireland's growing frustration.
Westwood kept his side ahead on 75 minutes with a great block from Trichkovski after Muhamed Demiri's long ball had deceived the back four.
As Macedonia pushed for a late equaliser, the home side sought to catch them on the counter attack, but the tactic caused frayed nerves amongst the home support.
Any confusion over McCarthy's allegiance was ended when he replaced Keane in the 87th minute. Such was the anticipation that there were cheers when the 20-year-old went out to warm up.
Despite some nervy moments towards the end, Ireland head to Skopje in a good position in the group, but the absence of Dunne, and possibly Doyle, for that encounter will make a tough assignment even trickier.
Spartak Moscow have warned Aston Villa off making any move for Ireland international winger Aiden McGeady.
Villa were rumoured to be interested in McGeady prior to his move to Russia this summer from Celtic and it has been reported they may now reignite their interest during the January transfer window.
McGeady has been hugely impressive at Spartak and the club's sporting director Dmitri Popov insists the Ireland international is not for sale.
"McGeady is certainly not for sale," said Popov. "It is not true that he is unsettled in Moscow.
"No one has approached us from Villa yet but, if they do, our answer will definitely be a no."McGeady received glowing praise this week from ex-Manchester United star Andrei Kanchelskis - "I'd give him 10 out of 10. There haven't been many better. His quality on the ball has been excellent, his pace and mobility is now Spartak's biggest threat.
"I like his attitude. He's a winner, he doesn't give up on anything. This is a quality that all top professionals need, but not every talented footballer has it. He plays 100pc for the team. It's now clear this is a player with a big, big future."
Ireland international Winger Aiden McGeady has settled quickly in Moscow and has said that it's a 'pleasure' to play for Spartak Moscow ahead of their Champion's league clash with Chelsea on Tuesday.
The 36 times capped Irishman is expected to run out against the Blues in their UEFA Champions League encounter after making the move to the Russian club in the summer.
Former Celtic man McGeady has enjoyed a successful start at Spartak, who are unbeaten in seven games since his debut last month.
The 24-year-old winger, who spent six years playing for the hoops, has produced a goal and four assists in six appearances for the Moscow outfit.
McGeady admits his new club's approach is entirely different to what he was used to in Scotland, but insists he is relishing the change.
"I like their style. It's not like the direct game in Scotland, the team look to pass and move. It's a pleasure to play."
Ireland international winger Aiden McGeady was last night celebrating his first goal for Spartak Moscow.
His 77th minute equaliser saved his team from a home defeat to Amkar Perm, with the final score 2-2. The 24-year-old's goal came when he instinctively responded to a cross and scored from the right side of the Perm goal.
His club is now in sixth place, but fans were unhappy that Spartak failed to beat one of the weakest teams in the Russian premiership. Despite this, Spartak remain unbeaten in the four matches since the £9.5 million winger has played since joining from Celtic.
Immediately before the game his coach Valery Karpin had predicted the Irish international would score. "So far he did what we first of all expected from him - set up our forwards for goals. But I am sure it is very soon that we will see him finding the back of the net," he said before kick off.
Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has revealed that he thoroughly enjoyed his debut for Spartak Moscow after he set up the winning goal.
The £9 million former Celtic winger played the full 90 minutes as Spartak beat FC Saturn 2-1. The Irish international provided the assist for Brazilian Welliton to score the winner after the striker had already netted for McGeady's side.
"The main thing was we won," said McGeady. "It was nice that I helped with one of the goals, but the credit belongs to Welliton. He's a great striker.
"The game was extremely difficult and tense. We managed to score, but they equalised and it took us time to adjust our game. Saturn were a strong, physical team.
"They reminded me of clubs in Scotland because they were defensive and tried to play on the counter-attack. To get past them was not easy. I'm a little tired after playing the full 90 minutes. I haven't played any matches in the pre-season, but now I am starting to get match fit after playing for Ireland in Europe. Once I start getting the games in for Spartak, I will get into my stride.
"I was playing on the right wing and, although I usually played on the left with Celtic, I played on the right wing earlier in my career. Anyway, I generally fell very comfortable being in that position. It was different for me playing on the artificial grass here, but I am confident I can adapt to the surface. I had better since we play all our home games on it!
"Now I have the Champions League to look forward to. I still don't have enough match practice, but that will come once I get games under my belt."
Spartak boss Valery Karpin said: "McGeady had a good game and showed the qualities that we bought him for"
Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has completed his £9.5m switch from Celtic to Spartak Moscow and agreed a four-and-half-year contract with the Russian club.
The 24-year-old Ireland midfielder is the most expensive ever export from Scottish football.
"It's what he wanted to do and sometimes you can't stand in the way of that," said Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
"It's a huge offer and I think it's the right offer. It's good business for Spartak and good business for us."
McGeady's departure will provide Lennon with funds to bolster his squad and may see Celtic revive their interest in McGeady's fellow Ireland international, Stoke winger Liam Lawrence.
Speaking on Thursday, the manager expressed sadness at losing such a talented player.
"I'm sorry to lose him, he is one of the entertainers in the game," said Lennon.
"We'll probably miss out on his peak years but he came to us and said that he felt at the end of the season it would be better for him to move on.
"It's difficult to stand in the way of someone who doesn't want to be here."
"I'm sure it's going to be a big hole. But it's up to someone to step up to the plate and fill it.
Spartak, managed by former Russian World Cup star Valery Karpin, lie in eighth position in the Russian Premier League, having won only five of their 15 matches.
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has stated he will consider his future at Manchester City if he's not selected for the opening game of the new Barclays Premier League season against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
Given, who has recovered from a shoulder injury that saw him miss the final three games of last season, is in a battle with Joe Hart for the number one shirt at Eastlands and is considering a transfer or loan move if he's not picked this weekend.
Meanwhile, Ireland trained in Malahide this morning ahead of Wednesday's international against Argentina.
Richard Dunne, John O'Shea and Kevin Doyle sat out the session because of injury.
Aiden McGeedy has been given permission to miss the match as he closes in on a move to Spartak Moscow.
Stoke and Ireland midfielder Liam Lawrence expects to complete his move to Celtic when fellow Ireland international Aiden McGeady finally leaves the Parkhead club.
McGeady will pen a four-year deal with Spartak Moscow this week and hand boss Neil Lennon an extra £9.5million towards his transfer kitty as he tries to reshape his squad ahead of the start of the SPL season.
Lawrence has been a long-time target of the Hoops and reckons his transfer will be given the green light when McGeady jets out to Russia.
He said: “Well, that’s what I’ve been told. I want a new challenge and, if it comes about, I will be chomping at the bit to achieve things at Celtic because they need to push this year and win things again.
“I have had some little bits of banter with Aiden as well.
“I spoke to him the other day and fired him a text because I knew he was off to Russia. I’m not telling you what I said though.
“It’s a massive, massive move for him and it’s an important decision both football-wise and for him and his missus.”
The capture of the Irish international will represent the next piece of the jigsaw for Lennon as he continues his summer rebuilding work.
And Lawrence insists the Hoops are still an attractive prospect despite their Champions League exit at the hands of Braga last week.
“I’m not one of those players who say they want to move because a club is in the Champions League,” he said.
