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Scotland national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Nov 14, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Republic of Ireland national football team

1-0

Maloney (75')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Mick McCarthy warns of Steven Fletcher threat

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy warns that Steven Fletcher will be Scotland's biggest threat when the two sides meet on Friday.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has earmarked Steven Fletcher as Scotland's biggest threat ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifying clash between the two sides.

Scotland host Ireland at Celtic Park on Friday night, with both sides looking to continue their encouraging start to their respective Group D campaigns.

However, McCarthy, who was Fletcher's boss at Wolverhampton Wanderers when the striker was in the international wilderness, has warned his former side that the Sunderland man is of the highest quality.

"I was his manager when he wasn't playing for Scotland. I could never understand that to be honest. Well I can and I can't but it was just a shame because he was playing well then," the Ipswich manager told reporters.

"When I was asked about Fletch by other managers I said he could play in the top four teams in England. If it was a Champions League team looking for a centre-forward, I would have hung my hat on him. Without any doubt. I think he's that good. He's still a young man, he's only 27 and should be at his peak. Unfortunately some of the injuries have restricted him from playing.

"Honestly, I thought he could have played for any one of the top four teams. I don't see him much now but I saw his goals against Crystal Palace and I thought his header was fantastic and his second was the finish of a real, cold, calculated predator. And he used to work at it, day in, day out, with Terry Connor, my assistant. And he loved it, he works hard at his game."

Ireland currently sit second in Group D on goal difference, three points above Scotland.

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Aiden McGeady of Ireland celebrates scoring a goal during the International Friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Latvia at Aviva Stadium on November 15, 2013
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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