RTÉ soccer analyst Eamon Dunphy believes that Ireland will fail to qualify for the 2018 unless Wes Hoolahan handed a more prominent role in the team.
Hoolahan was named man-of-the-match in Sunday night’s 3-1 qualifying victory over Moldova, a result which leaves Ireland level with Group D leaders Serbia on points.
However the Norwich midfielder was only called into the starting team after Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady were ruled out of the game through suspension and injury respectively.
Many observers felt that Hoolahan was included because the manager had no other option and Dunphy is fearful that the midfielder will again be sidelined in November’s game with Austria.
Dunphy was critical on manager Martin O'Neill and speaking to RTÉ2's Game One said: "The Wes Hoolahan issue. [O'Neill] doesn't play Wes except when it is absolutely unavoidable.
"Without Wes Hoolahan, we are not going to the World Cup."
“He refuses to name him in his praise. He was glowing in praise of James McClean last night as Damien Duff observed on RTÉ's panel. He is curiously reluctant to acknowledge Wes' contribution, which is outstanding," he added.
"We've got Austria-Wales-Austria in our next three games and if we start with the centre-halves we started with last night and without Wes Hoolahan, we are not going to the World Cup.”
Hoolahan was conspicuous by his absence for Ireland’s 1-0 victory over Georgia last Thursday in Dublin.
There was criticism for what was a flat display from Ireland against the Georgians and despite their surprise 1-1 draw with Wales on Sunday, Dunphy does not believe that result in Cardiff adds any shine to Ireland’s performance.
"We were terrible against Georgia," he said. "The fact that Wales were terrible against them as well doesn’t excuse things.
"Nothing that happened in Wales last night or elsewhere validates stupidity on out part.
"We have a player that would probably get into the England team. I saw England play and I saw France play Bulgaria and there are very few players, if any, better than Wes Hoolahan.
"I would hazard a guess that Wes Hoolahan has no chance of starting the next game with all players available."
