He was rested for the Ireland game due to a problem with blisters which would match with what you are seeing.sounds like a minor point, but I think it looks like his boots are "digging in" and possibly ill-fitting
think he may just need to break them in a bit more, they may be new and therefore pinching a bit
He played more as a AM for the Ireland game against Georgia with two other players filling his "cover the ground tackling anything" role and he got up field plenty and gave a lovely assist to McGeady's first goal. He was withdrawn immediately after McGeady scored the winner, presumably as he was still having problems.