When the Icelander opted to observe a sole match in advance of his first double-header in September which ended in two defeats and no goals, his stance attracted ridicule.

UK grounds have been visited since – and his assistant John O’Shea covers the congested cluster of north-west matches – but in providing a tutorial on the famed Wyscout digital system, Hallgrimsson was determined to explain his rationale.

His impromptu demonstration of the scouting system was prompted by a routine query about whether he’d been present for Sunderland’s visit to Preston North End.

Earlier, Hallgrimsson had cited Wednesday’s Championship fixture as the one he’d watched Alan Browne in. There was no room in the 23-man squad for the Corkman, as was the case in last month’s window.

Conspiracists felt the snub may have been linked to Browne disagreeing with the manager blaming a lack of confidence on the collapse in results. He insisted the decision to overlook a seasoned campaigner capable of easing concerns over midfield depth was related to match fitness:

“He’s coming back,” said the 57-year-old, noting the 90-minute return was Browne’s third in the past two months.

“Hopefully he gets his full fitness and, if continues to play like yesterday, there’s good times ahead for him.”

Those good times are what Hallgrimsson was tasked with recapturing when the FAI ended their arduous eight-month managerial search.

Three defeats in four hardly point to a saviour but he created those memories in Helsinki for fans to cherish.

Competing the double against Finland at home next Thursday, regardless of what follows at Wembley four days later to conclude the Uefa Nations League, would constitute a return over a six-match series he’d live with.

“I’d be reasonably happy with two wins but it won’t qualify for us major finals,” he opined, attaching a caveat about the tilt for the 2026 World Cup beginning in the new year.

“As third seeds in the draw on December 13, we’ll definitely play two teams ranked higher than us, so we need to be better against them.” 

Ireland’s prospects for an unlikely qualification might be better served with the six six points being accrued in a different manner, for instance one win and three draws but he pointed out to the continued growth of Greece as a factor. They, rather than England, are in pole position for promotion to League A. Four wins from four, including six points against Ireland and victory at Wembley, distorted the forecasts.

“Maybe it turned out to be a different campaign to what people expected,” stressed Hallgrimsson. “I, for sure, expected England to be the runaway winner but Greece played really well. Compliments to how they’re playing and everything they’re doing.

“Looking back to Greece away, they had so much possession and dominance in the first half but couldn’t score.

“That is something we need to repeat. Even without possession, we can still be in the game. Once defensively solid, we only need one goal to win it.” Shorn of crocked Robbie Brady, the provider and scorer in the 2-1 win over Finland, Ireland will require a spark in these final of 2024 fixtures.

Painfully slowly, Evan Ferguson has returned to full match fitness, finally starting and scoring for Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Together with Troy Parrott, they formed the forward partnership in Athens last month, perhaps a foundation of a striker pairing.

“In possession, they’re really different types of strikers,” the former Iceland and Jamaica manager highlighted.

“Evan is good receiving the ball in spaces in front of the goal, Troy is more the guy who goes into spaces and behind, spin-off etc “It’s a good cooperation if you can afford to have two guys like this. Can you do strikers strong going forward but do you need to have one better going both ways? It depends who you play.” Refining the selection and tactics for each game is a strategy he’s not hiding from. While England and Greece are battling at the top, Ireland are positioned to earn a playoff against a League C team in March for survival in the second tier.

“Finland is the decisive game in the group, so is the one we’re going out to win,” he asserted.

“Looking back on the first game against them, it was kind of a good and bad performance, first half and second half.

“When we were on the front foot, we played really well – as we did in the second half against Greece.

“We’re trying to find balance between low block and high pressing but would like to be on the front foot.” After sussing what’s the best method for seeing his players, Hallgrimsson is getting there on how best to deploy them.