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O'Neill: Keane and Arter have buried the hatchet

Cape Town - Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill has welcomed the return of Harry Arter after he and Roy Keane put their differences to one side.

READ: 'I don't need the armband to be a leader,' says Pogba

The Bournemouth midfielder, who is on a season-long loan at Premier League rivals Cardiff, clashed with Keane last month for sitting out training on medical advice.

Arter subsequently made himself unavailable for the games against Wales and Poland, but is back in the squad after mending his relationship with the assistant manager.

O'Neill believes the 28-year-old will have a point to prove when he faces Denmark on Saturday and the Dragons three days later.

"The two of them have been talking; they met up again last night. I probably believe it should make Harry stronger from it all," the 66-year-old said.

"I think if there is criticism coming your way, take it in some sort of spirit and tend to prove someone wrong if the criticism is levelled at you and if someone is praising you, try and prove them right.

"So in this case, Harry wants to do that. I think he wants to do that, not just for Ireland, but I think he wants to prove Bournemouth were wrong to let him leave there at this minute, or certainly let him go out on loan.

"He has a bit to prove which is great. I think players should always have something to prove as should we as managers as well."

O'Neill admits that Arter is crucial to the Boys in Green as one of the few Premier League regulars.

"Well he is one at the moment, even though his club team cannot get a result in the league, who is playing in the big league for a start," the Ulsterman added.

"And at the moment we don't have many players doing that. So it's good to put any sort of ranker behind now, I think that's what happened. It's nice to see him back."

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