NORWICH MIDFIELDER ANTHONY Pilkington has been ruled out of the upcoming Ireland games, including the friendly with England, in order to undergo treatment for a knee injury.
The player has yet to make his debut for Ireland, having previously pulled out of another squad through injury.
On his decision to pull out, Pilkington told reporters:
“The management and the physio have pulled me out – I’ve been struggling with my knee so I need to get treatment through the summer and an extra four games is not going to help me through pre-season.
“I need a rest and I need the treatment that I’m going to be getting through the summer in the off season, so hopefully I can put that behind me and come back pre-season 100% fit. It’s unfortunate these injuries have popped up at the worst times for me. But like I say, I’ve got to put that behind me now, get right for next season and then hopefully see if I can get back in the squad.
“It wouldn’t be right for me to go away and them come back in pre-season struggling. I’ve had to manage the injury (to his patellar tendon) towards the end of the season and because of my knee, I’ve picked up a few hamstring injuries. So I’ll go away in the summer, work hard, get 100% fit and come back flying.”
Trap’s squad will play England and Georgia, followed by a must-win World Cup qualifier with the Faroe Islands, before finishing off for the summer with a glamour friendly against Spain at Yankee Stadium in New York.
