ICRELAND right-back Chris Morris has revealed that he is playing through pain to get to the World Cup.
The Celtic man has a groin problem and has been told the only cure is two months’ rest — but Morris knows that is not an option with Italia 90 on the horizon.
It is still something that causes problems from day-to-day and forced him off early in Ireland’s friendly win over the Soviet Union.
Morris said: “Basically, this is an overuse injury. It won’t stop me playing.
“With the treatment between matches it doesn’t affect me on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Jack Charlton’s brother Bobby tipped Ireland to reach the semi-finals at Italia 90.
CAN REACH THE SEMI-FINAL
Charlton Jr was in Dublin and stressed that his older brother’s work with Ireland meant there were no longer an unknown quantity on the world stage.
He said: “You can’t call Ireland underdogs now. People remember them from the European Championships.
“There is no reason why Ireland can’t reach the last four. I don’t think realistically they can look further than that. But if they get out of the group, they need not fear anybody in a one-off match.”
In England, Liverpool’s John Barnes was named Football Writers’ Player of the Year while Bobby Robson warned Steve Bull that his chances of making his World Cup squad could be hampered by his involvement in the promotion play-offs with Wolves.
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Elsewhere, the Netherlands squad was split after Leo Beenhakker was appointed manager rather than players’ choice Johan
Cruyff.
Ronald Koeman said: “The unique atmosphere of two years ago (when the Dutch won Euro 88) is gone.”
Dutch hopes were not helped with Erwin Koeman (knee) and Marcel Peeper (broken leg) ruled out of Italia 90.