Swiss Results Are Meaningless

Martin O'Neill is unconcerned about what results we get against FC Wil and FC Zurich, he simply wants the players sharp for the Intertwobob.

Speaking to the Mail, O'Neill explains that the whole idea of the trip is to ease the lads back into the right frame of find and get them fighting fit for a sensible launch on Europe, and in such the results are unimportant.

He also explains that the younger players have been called up on merit, to give them experience and aide their development, rather than as a reaction soley based on the size of our squad.

"I`m not at all worried about the results in Switzerland. It`s about trying to get into a pattern of play again and get a bit of match fitness.

"This trip is all about stepping up our preparations for the return to competitive football.

"The second game against FC Zurich will be a decent enough test but essentially I see the games as extensions of the training sessions.

"We`re building up and trying to get ourselves ready for the Intertoto Cup the following week.

"That`s why we`ve thrown in the game on the Thursday night as well."

When the squad was announced a few questionned why Ciaran Clark wasn't included, but he's still with the England Under 19's and is unavailable sadly.

"We are taking some young lads out there and that would always have been the case, whether our squad was up to full strength or not.

"I would have brought them through regardless - if we`d had 26 players I`d still have brought two or three of them with us.

"I did that last season and I`d do that every single time.'

Be interesting to see the younger lads alongside the first team, we have high hopes for a few of them so it will be interesting if they can make an impact.

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