Former Ireland defender Paddy Mulligan is concerned by Wes Hoolahan's ability to impose himself on games against the bigger teams.

Ireland face Gibraltar and Georgia over the next week as Martin O'Neill's side try to turn their Euro 2016 qualification hopes around.

Norwich midfielder Hoolahan is a likely starter for tomorrow's away game against Gibraltar but Mulligan, who played for Chelsea, Crystal Palace and West Brom between 1969 and 1979, is worried about Hoolahan when it comes to bigger games. 

"Wes Hoolahan, just like Coutinho, has great skill and also has a great left foot, but he gets knocked off a ball so easy. He gives the ball away when the going gets tough in midfield. He's fine playing against the Gibraltars of this world when he's got all the time in the world," he said on the Rewind podcast.

"When you put him up against Matic as Ireland did against Serbia the season before last, Matic just pushed him aside. He never got a kick of the ball. That's a huge concern for me. Now, against Gibraltar, if Wes Hoolahan was to play on Friday night, he'd have a field night. But he mightn't have a field night against Georgia and he certainly won't have a field night against Germany or Scotland for that matter." 

Listen to the full interview with Paddy via the podcast:

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