Martin O'Neill targets Republic of Ireland revenge over Denmark as Jeff Hendrick backs under-fire Roy Keane

The Republic of Ireland manager is targetting victory over Denmark to get over their 5-1 thrashing a year ago

Martin O'Neill says his side are in good form (Getty Images)

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill is targeting Nations League victory over Denmark to ease the pain of the last meeting between the sides.

The Danes won 5-1 in Dublin in November last year to deny Ireland a trip to the World Cup finals, and with Age Hareide's star man Christian Eriksen injured and Republic frontman Shane Long fit after an ankle problem, O'Neill is hopeful for Saturday night's game at the Aviva Stadium.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, he said: "Denmark, obviously, beat us convincingly about 11 months ago, so I think we would like to redress that if we can, naturally.

"This is part of the preliminary stages of the league itself, the Nations League as it's called, so three points up for grabs as well. We'd like to try to win the game if we can.

The Republic of Ireland management are under pressure following consecutive competitive thrashings (Getty)

"The players are in good form. We all trained today, Shane Long trained as well, and we're ready to go."

Meanwhile, Jeff Hendrick has revealed he sat down with Roy Keane in the thick of his latest controversy as he attempts to learn all he can from the Republic of Ireland assistant manager.

Keane found himself in the limelight once again last month after an X-rated version of his summer bust-up with Harry Arter and Jonathan Walters was made public, leaving some commentators questioning the former Manchester United skipper's suitability for his role as O'Neill's number two.

But amid all the fuss, the former Ireland skipper took Hendrick to one side to talk him through his performance in the 4-1 Nations League defeat in Wales, and the Burnley midfielder insists he relished the opportunity to pick the 47-year-old's brain.

Asked how he found Keane in his dealings with him given the most recent furore, Hendrick said: "I enjoy it.

"After the last game, we played Wales and there were a few clips that I didn't do well in. I sat down with him and he talked me through it and helped me, and I tried to put that into practice in the Poland game.

"Personally, I thought my performance was better (against Poland). I'm sure he did it with a few other players and the team's performance was better as well, so we'll keep sitting down and picking his brain.

"He played in the same position as I do, so it's always good to do that."

Roy Keane was involved in a furious bust-up with Harry Arter (AFP/Getty)

In the meantime, Keane and Arter have resolved their differences and the Bournemouth midfielder, who is currently on loan at Cardiff, is back in the squad for Saturday's Nations League clash with Denmark and Wales' return trip to Dublin on Tuesday.

It is a double-header which is being viewed by some as a watershed for the management team with Ireland's last two competitive fixtures, a 5-1 World Cup play-off defeat by the Danes and last month's reverse in Cardiff, having set alarm bells ringing.

Denmark were inspired by hat-trick hero Eriksen when they romped to victory at the Aviva Stadium in November last year after drawing 0-0 in Copenhagen three days earlier, and his absence through injury this time around is a boost.

Hendrick remembers that night only too well, but is grateful for an opportunity to put things right on Saturday.

He said: "Everybody was hurting - we were, the fans were. That's the way it was, that's the way the game turned out. It wasn't a good night.

"But we have a lot of new faces in now. Everybody's worked hard, everybody's training, everybody's looking bright and up for the game."

PA