Former Boys in Green defender Paddy Mulligan wants to see more from Ireland midfielder Wes Hoolahan as Bosnia come to town for the Euro 2016 playoff second leg tonight at the Aviva Stadium.
The Norwich playmaker was an underwhelming presence in the 1-1 draw away in Zenica and that performance has concerned Mulligan as he explained on the Rewind podcast.
"It's all very well people saying we're going to attack tonight. You can only attack if you have the ball. It's as basic and simple as that. So, Ireland have got to have people in midfield who are commanding of the ball. Now, Wes Hoolahan was a major disappointment for me last Friday night," he said.
"In the first 28 minutes, in any meaningful fashion, he touched the ball once and he proceeded to give it away. He got lost in the fog that wasn't there in the first half and then in the second half he got substituted and quite rightly so. There's a big concern about him. I've heard people say McCarthy and Whelan have to get the ball to him. No! McCarthy and Whelan are there to do a job and yes, when they've got the ball and he's available, they'll give it to him. But he's got to demand that ball. He's got to be the leader. Everybody is saying what a smashing player he is, but prove it tonight to me, Wes, because you haven't done it so far for me."
But given what we have seen of Bosnia so far from Friday night, Paddy does not see them as daunting opponents and expects Ireland to complete the job tonight.
"I expect them tonight to go and win the game. I'd be very disappointed and surprised if they don't because they're well capable," he said, adding that he would not risk starting Shane Long and John O'Shea who have both had recent injury problems and both missed the first leg - albeit the latter through suspension.
Listen to Paddy's preview at the start of this week's podcast:
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