REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill is hopeful Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick will be fit for Saturday's World Cup play-off first leg against Denmark.

The Clarets midfielder, a pivotal figure in Ireland's qualifying campaign so far, suffered a glute injury against Southampton on Saturday.

Hendrick was substituted just over an hour into the Clarets' 1-0 victory at St Mary's and could be a doubt for the trip to Copenhagen.

"We have one or two who played over the weekend carrying bumps and bruises, and we'll see how they are over the next few days," said O'Neill.

"Jeff came off after about 60-odd minutes, he was having a bit of a problem and he's still a little bit sore at the moment.

"He's still hopeful and I think it's a case of the other players being nursed through the next couple of days as well.

"He's said he's improving so that's good news. If the game was tomorrow morning he might struggle but he's pretty hopeful and the medical team are hopeful."

Injuries have already ruled out defender Richard Keogh, midfielder James McCarthy and forward Sean Maguire while David Meyler is suspended for the first leg.

O'Neill and Ireland have recent play-off experience under their belts, having qualified for Euro 2016 over two legs against Bosnia-Herzegovina.