The number of Premier League and Championship matches being played this coming Sunday creates a headache for Stephen Kenny.
There are six games scheduled to be played in English football's top flight along with two more in the Championship. Kenny expects just under half of his 25-man squad to be involved in those fixtures.
Ireland play Slovakia in a crucial Euro 2020 playoff just four days later, and with travel to be factored in, it doesn't leave much time for Kenny and his coaching staff to prepare the Ireland team on the pitch.
"The only problem that we have is that at least 11 of the players are playing on Sunday," the Ireland manager said at a press conference on Tuesday.
"That presents its own difficulty. That's unusual, normally there would be only one or two players playing on the Sunday. Obviously, that rules training out on the Monday. We fly on Tuesday and then have the match on Thursday. There's very little preparation time. That presents its own logistical problem.
"We'll absolutely make sure we're ready. We just have to prepare in other ways. We'll make contact between now and then in relation to individual roles. Maybe a meeting on Monday morning in relation to how we're going to play; some meetings on how Slovakia are going to play; some video analysis and general conversations; clear instruction on what's expected of everyone."
An issue for Kenny during his time as Ireland manager thus far has been getting to see players in person. Covid-19 measures mean he would have to self-isolate for a fortnight if he travelled abroad and then returned to Ireland.
"It's been very frustrating," said Kenny.
"Obviously with the laws in Ireland, it prohibits you from doing that. It would put you in quarantine for over two weeks which is impossible for me as a manager to do that with the quick time frame between the windows.
"We have had our scouting team at a lot of the matches. We've utilised all of the people in our international setup, including some of our ex-players who are coaches with out international setup who have been involved helping compile reports on the players."
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
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