ONeill- We face huge test

Last updated : 28 September 2011 By Team Talk

The Hoops face Tottenham at White Hart Lane in their second match of their groundbreaking Europa League campaign as they look to bounce back from a humbling 3-0 loss against Rubin Kazan in the opening match.

With Harry Redknapp admitting he has more than an eye on the north London derby against Arsenal at the weekend, many expect the Spurs boss to field a weakened side against the Irish champions in Group A.

Despite the likelihood of Shamrock facing some of Tottenham's squad players, O'Neill believes they will still be underdogs come kick-off.

He said: "We saw in the opening Europa League game some of their younger players being blooded and they gave an excellent account of themselves.

"Whilst we are unsure of what we will face personnel-wise, there will probably be a sprinkling of experienced players mixed with some of the younger players they have here.

"Tottenham are building a Champions League squad here, that is what it is. When you have that level of ambition and that level of commitment you have to have a player of that calibre."

O'Neill, who had two spells as a player in England, was under no illusions as to which game Redknapp would deem the bigger for his club.

"I think he (Redknapp) has been honest, the Arsenal game is a bigger game for Tottenham. I would expect their focus will be on that game but Tottenham have a good enough and large enough squad to deal with two games in that period of time," he said.

With suggestions the team froze in the defeat at home to Kazan O'Neill is certain the players will not be overawed by the occasion this time around.

"They can go and enhance their reputations both individually as players and ours as a team," he said.

"I don't think that the fear factor exists but you just don't know to be honest, I believe that the players are really looking forward to the game and I don't see any real apprehension in the squad.

"They seem relaxed and are keen to come here and hopefully they will be in the same frame of mind tomorrow night. I think you can't really see it (nerves) until the game starts and that is influenced not only by how we start the game but also the opposition."

The fixture also gives Shamrock forward Rohan Ricketts the chance to play against his former club, something which O'Neill admits may have even helped him sign the nomadic playmaker towards the end of August.

He said: "I'm sure he has (a point to prove). He is a very talented player, we have probably got him at a time when his career was not going where he expected it to go.

"I think in the short space of time he has been with us he has shown us the ability he has. Any player coming back to their own club they have a point to prove.

"It is a good occasion for him getting this opportunity and if I'm honest it was probably a big factor in us persuading him to come and play for us."

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk