THE first time Stuart McCall met Martin O'Neill he spent nearly half an hour grilling him for tips on football management.

But on Friday night Gordon Strachan's assistant coach intends to use that advice to help Scotland defeat O'Neill's Republic of Ireland side in the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier.

The ex-Rangers midfielder first encountered the former Celtic boss eight years ago. At the time McCall was assistant manager at Sheffield United and O'Neill was in charge of Aston Villa.

The Ibrox legend was very grateful for the good advice he received but insists he will not show any sentiment when they meet again at Celtic Park this week.

Speaking at the Scotland team hotel near Erskine just a week after resigning as boss of Motherwell, McCall said: "I have met Martin a couple of times over the years.

"The first time was when I was Neil Warnock's assistant at Sheffield United and we had just drawn 2-2 with Villa in an English Premier League game at Bramall Lane.

"Martin stormed into the coaches' room after the game raging because his team had no hot water.

"I said to him, 'Martin, feel me - I'm freezing too and I've just come out of the shower!'

"He thought our manager Neil was up to his old tricks and had switched off the hot water in their dressing room. But we had none either.

"John Robertson, Martin's assistant, was also there and I then embarrassed myself by asking for his autograph.

"I'd been a fan at Wembley in 1981 when he scored the penalty that gave Scotland a 1-0 win over England. He was an outstanding player.

"Anyway, we sat about and chatted. I was like a sponge.

"I questioned Martin about football and management. He must have been bored to tears.

"But, to be fair to him, he just sat there and spoke to me for about 25 minutes. It was brilliant."

In his playing career as a tough-tackling midfielder with Bradford City, Everton, Rangers, Sheffield United and Scotland, McCall also squared to O'Neill's assistant with the national team, Roy Keane.

He has no doubts that, with those two at the helm, Ireland will be difficult opponents.

But he believes Strachan's side can continue their fine recent form and take a step closer to the Euro 2016 finals in France with a victory.

McCall said: "I came up against Roy a couple of times on the pitch when Bradford played Manchester United.

"He was an outstanding player and character.

"So I think Ireland have two really good football men in charge of them."

COMPARING the squads that will clash in Glasgow this week, McCall said: "If you look at their team you see a lot of players who are doing well in the English Premier League or the like.

"But if you look at our team you see so many similarities.

"Both teams have blood and thunder and guts but they also have skill and trickery.

"Ireland have got a bit of everything and we have a bit of everything. The teams are really evenly matched.

"On the night, it might come down to a little bit of luck or a decision going our way. It is that even.

"It would be tough to call an out-and-out result. But at this moment in time everyone in the Scotland camp is eagerly anticipating the match.

"It will be the same for the Irish group. I am sure they'll be looking forward to coming to Celtic Park.

"But the bottom line here is that, for one game only, we'd gladly sacrifice a performance for a result.

"It is always nice to build and build as a team and that is the way it has been going for us. The performances have been getting better. We have got a shape and a system and everyone is buying into it.

"However, we can be rotten on Friday just as long as we end up winning the game. We would settle for that."

THREE games into the Group D campaign, the Republic of Ireland are tied at the top of the qualifying section with Poland.

But after a 1-0 home win over Georgia 1-0 and 2-2 away draw with the Poles, hopes are high among the Tartan Army that Scotland can record a crucial win on Friday. McCall believes that having the vast majority of the 60,000-strong crowd firmly behind the home team will help enormously.

He explained: "We had a good win at Ibrox in our last match and played well.

"Now the lads are looking forward to playing at Celtic Park. The good thing is that we will have 95 per cent of the crowd behind us.

"The Irish will only have a little singing section of 3,000. They could get drowned out.

"I'm sure they will have other supporters dotted here and there around the ground but it doesn't really matter.

"It is an old cliché but the Tartan Army can definitely be a 12th man for us. It is going to be a full house and the majority of the 60,000 supporters will be backing us..

"This match is going to be something to really relish."

McCall stressed that no one in the Scotland camp will be letting their minds wander ahead to the glamour friendly match against England at Celtic Park a week today.

He insisted: "We're looking forward to what are going to be two great games.

"But our first concern is the qualifier. Everyone is really excited about the big match against Ireland on Friday.

"We will only look towards the England game after that."