Heimir hoping experience can help kickstart campaign

Heimir Hallgrimsson still believes that Ireland can qualify for next year's World Cup, and has added experience to his squad ahead of the upcoming double-header against Portugal and Armenia.

The Ireland manager was in Dublin to announce the 24-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers as the national side look to bounce back from a humiliating defeat to Armenia in their last game.

One point from the opening two games was all that Ireland were able to take from the qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia, which put qualification hopes in serious jeopardy with only four games remaining.

Hallgrimsson, however, was remaining upbeat and hopeful that he can get his side into the runners-up position in the group, which would secure safe passage into the play-off phase for World Cup qualification.

Portugal took maximum points from the opening two games, and as a result, offered Ireland a modicum of hope to win what looks like a three-way battle for second spot against the aforementioned Hungary and Armenia.

But first up Portugal, and while the manager was not specifically targeting a result in Lisbon, he does believe that the players will put in a performance to make up for the disappointing showing in Yerevan.

Seamus Coleman’s inclusion should certainly offer inspiration to the squad to take into the two games, with three points now vital in the Dublin return game against Armenia, which comes three days after the match in Lisbon on Saturday week.

And the manager explained his decision to bring back the Everton and Ireland stalwart, having omitted the former captain from the previous international window.

"Seamus Coleman is always the first question in this press conference, and we've said we've been criticised not picking him and probably we will be criticised picking him," said Hallgrimsson.

"Like before, he hasn't played much, but he has played two League Cup games and we have said before his numbers are good and we know he is fit and he has always been ready to play and would do everything for his country, so happy to have him.

"He is in for football reasons, but of course he will bring experience and he will bring leadership skills into this squad."

Another player who brings both of the above is John Egan, who was a squad regular for many years and now returns for his first camp with the current manager.

Egan is now plying his trade with Hull City, and the manager spoke highly of the defender, having seen him play, while also having conversations with his coaching staff regarding what he might bring to the squad.

"John Egan brings in quality, brings in experience and brings in leadership, so two senior players called in to help us in that area as well," said Hallgrimsson.

"I only spoke to him once when he was injured. I think we met him in Burnley when he was there after a game.

"But both [coaches] Paddy (McCarthy) and John (O’Shea) know him from the past and speak highly of him as a person and as a leader, etc.

"But I've watched him play and he's a good player and that's the reason why we pick him."

Troy Parrott (below) also returns to the squad having missed the last two games through injury, however, the striker, who was in fine form early in the season, comes with a question mark, and was named as the 24th member of squad with the Dublin clash in Armenia the real target.

"We add Troy Parrott as a 24th player in the squad," said Hallgrimsson. "He is coming back from injury, just started training.

"If everything goes well he will be in the squad and hopefully get some minutes on Sunday.

"So we will take him into the squad, not planning to have him in the squad against Portugal, but hopefully we can add him into the squad against Armenia."

The manager was asked how he was coping following the disappointment of the opening games, and Hallgrimsson is choosing to look on the bright side and focus on the positives, while also responding that he had no regrets taking the job and believed that the FAI fully supported him at this juncture.

He said: "I'm OK, this is the life, sometimes it's positive, sometimes it's negative and you just need to adapt to whatever mood there is and keep on your job.

"The thing is that we've had a project in our hands, we were feeling really good with it until Armenia, so should we make one game affect what we are doing and how we are working?

"Absolutely not, we continue to have belief in the squad and we'll continue with our work."

Asked about the extreme criticism that followed the last international window, he said: "Obviously that disappoints, that hurts, that's normal

"Could I have anticipated that? I don't know, you know the media here better than me, but no, definitely it hurts."

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