Republic must gather six points insists McClean

James McClean says the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of automatic qualification for the 2018 World Cup could already hinge on getting maximum points this week.

Martin O’Neill’s side face a home game against Georgia in Dublin before travelling to face Moldova.

In an even-looking group, West Brom’s McClean has no doubt that the Irish must take all six points this week.

They took a point from their first game in Serbia but with Wales and Austria still ahead, there is very little margin for error should the Irish be planning to finish first.

“We need to take six from six without putting any added pressure on us. We want to qualify as automatic winners.

It is a very tough group with evenly matched teams so I think if we want to qualify we need to take six points,” McClean said.

Georgia have already been beaten at home by Austria and they have yet to avoid defeat in seven previous games against the Republic.

Despite that record, McClean insists nothing can be taken for granted at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday.

“[It will be] a tough game,” said McClean. “A lot of people are writing Georgia off as a given [win], but the last campaign showed that they are not.

“Both games were tough and we have got to give them the utmost respect. We know it is not going to be easy so we need to be on it come Thursday night.”

Ireland are 6.00 to finish top of Group D, Wales are 2.88 and Austria can be backed at 3.00.