Villa duo Clark and Dunne pull out of Ireland squad
Aston Villa defenders Richard Dunne and Ciaran Clark have been forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday’s international friendly with Norway. Clark had been expected to make his debut for Ireland after switching allegiance from England just last month. However, the youngster picked up a calf injury shortly before Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Manchester United yesterday lunchtime.
Although Richard Dunne played all 90 minutes of the 2-2 draw at Villa Park, his old knee injury returned, and he will stay in Birmingham for treatment. Another injury withdrawal is Kevin Kilbane, whose back injury saw him taken off with half an hour left in Hull’s 2-0 win over Preston on Friday night.
Ireland’s other doubt is Sean St. Ledger, who picked up a knee injury early in that match with Hull. However, he was treated on the sidelines and remained on the pitch – although he was at fault for the second goal. “Ledge was in a bit of pain at half-time and had an injection,” commented manager Darren Ferguson after the match.
Giovanni Trapattoni has declined to call up any replacements, as he feels he has adequate cover.
Ireland squad:
Shay Given (Manchester City), Keiren Westwood (Coventry)
John O’Shea (Manchester Utd), Séamus Coleman (Everton), Seán St Ledger (Preston), Greg Cunningham (Manchester City), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Darren O’Dea (Ipswich)
Marc Wilson (Stoke), Darron Gibson (Manchester Utd), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Paul Green (Derby), Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth), Stephen Hunt (Wolves), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Keith Treacy (Preston), Damien Duff (Fulham), Keith Fahey (Birmingham)
Jonathan Walters (Stoke), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long (Reading).
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[...] here: Villa duo Clark and Dunne pull out of Ireland squad – GreenScene Related Posts:Clark and Dunne to miss Norway friendly – Irish Times The Guardian Clark and [...]
3 strikers and 3 centre backs (One of whom is also walking the injury tightrope). Trap is being too stubborn again. He should call up Damien Delaney and Anthony Stokes.
Conor Sammon needs a call-up. Scored again yesterday.
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Mark Wilson could play at centre back if needs be. Agreed that Trap should call up an extra striker though, a missed opportunity to try out somebody else. Even if he just doesn’t like Stokes, there must be somebody worth giving a go, Cox at West Brom maybe. At least we should get to see 90 minutes for Shane Long, maybe 20-30 minutes for Walters with Doyler getting a rest.
Took the word right out of my mouth Richie in relation to Cox of WBA and possibly playing Wilson at centre half.
If St Ledger pulls out and O’Dea in’t fit enough, Wilson will have to play at center back. I’d call up either Stokes, Sheridan or Murphy ahead of Cox. It would be ridiculous if Cox got called up ahead of them.
I’d have all of those, Sammon, and Rooney ahead of Cox. He doesn’t deserve a call-up. Not that Walters really does based on form either.
At a guess, Stokes comments that he was pissed off about Sheridan getting brought on ahead of him in the pre world cup matches are the reasoning for his exclusion. We know Trap can hold a grudge for a long time and I have a feeling that Stokes being overlooked goes back to that issue. We have to try a different option. I just dont see Walters ever being a true goalscorer for us. The worry about Sammon and Rooney is obviously the standard of the league they are playing in. But they are a rarity this season, they are Irish players who are scoring consistently
Sammon, Sheridan and Rooney are definitely not good enough to play for Ireland.
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