In the build-up to a crucial World Cup qualifier in Austria vs Ireland this Saturday, The Balls.ie Football Show spoke to Alexander Stretcha of Kurier to get an idea as to what the opposition were expecting, and who we ourselves should look out for other than the usual big names.
Obviously they know all about our injury troubles, but we were delighted to hear that Marko Arnautovic has been bigging up Jon Walters to the Austrian media, although we couldn't understand why he didn't warn them about Glenn Whelan.
It could be an advantage that Stephen Ward, Shane Long, and James McCarthy are injured, because they're important players for the starting XI.
But today there was a press conference with the Austrian team and Marko Arnautovic told us some nice words about Jonathan Walters, his colleague in Stoke.
He told us he's a wonderful player, a complete player, and physically like a machine. He knows him very well.
Also [Austria manager] Marcel Koller told us McClean, the midfielder, is dangerous. He can score, he showed that in the qualifiers [against Moldova], so we have some players to watch out for.
We love that from Arnautovic, Jon 'The Machine' Walters.
In terms of the Austria squad, while the vast majority will be familiar with David Alaba, Arnautovic, Julian Baumgartlinger, and Kevin Wimmer of Spurs, we asked if there was any lesser known threat who may cause us problems, and a young attacker currently making waves in Germany was mentioned.
Perhaps it will be Marcel Sabitzer, playing in the German Bundesliga at Leipzig.
He's in a very good mood, a right winger, but can also play through the centre or in any offensive position, so he could be a surprise for Ireland.
Sabitzer does indeed look a very dangerous player. He's scored three times and assisted twice in eight Bundesliga starts so far this season, as RB Leipzig have had a truly sensational start to life in the top tier of German football after earning promotion to the Bundesliga last season.
He're the obligatory YouTube highlights video:
James McClean trained alone today in an attempt to recover from a back injury that had been bothering him, so fingers crossed he makes it.
There's no doubt that Ward, Long, and McCarthy are big losses, but The Machine will be leading the line and hopefully we can field a team that can get the best out of him.
