Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph has handed Mick McCarthy a huge boost after he stepped up his training with the squad ahead of their crunch Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark on Monday.
Randolph returned to the Middlesborough team last weekend following a spell on the sidelines due to a thigh problem, and was back on the training pitch with Ireland today.
The netminder worked most mostly in the gym prior to his return to Ireland training, providing a timely boost to the squad of the Denmark showdown at the Aviva Stadium.
A draw will be enough to qualify the Danes for the summer's finals while the hosts need a victory in order to progress.
"I said we'd wrap Darren in cotton wool ahead of the Denmark match and we’ve almost been true to my word," laughed Ireland boss Mick McCarthy when speaking to FAI.ie after the penultimate session before the Denmark showdown.
"He wasn’t involved for the New Zealand win on Thursday night and he’s done most of his work in the gym this week so it was great to see him working on the pitch today.
"Like everyone else in the squad, Darren is fit and raring to go and he can’t wait for the game now."
Denmark come into the Ireland game on the back of a 6-0 victory over Gibraltar on Friday.
McCarthy said that he watched that one-sided affair with his players while also keeping an eye on Switzerland's win against Georgia.
The latter result brought plenty of relief to the Ireland camp before Monday's game.
"The results on Friday were exactly as expected but with Switzerland-Georgia being such a close game," McCarthy added.
"I did cheer that late Switzerland goal as it means a one-goal win will do us on Monday.
"Denmark will be happy with their result but we knew before their game that we'd have to beat them and that’s still the case. Nothing has changed."
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