DAVID MCGOLDRICK HAS suffered a fresh injury blow and could be out until Christmas.
The Republic of Ireland international has been hampered by a string of fitness issues over the last two years and has been hit with a new one after appearing for Ipswich in an EFL Cup clash with Stevenage on Tuesday night.
It’s believed that the 28-year-old picked up an ankle injury after coming on as a first-half replacement but elected not to go off and played the remainder of the game.
The initial prognosis seemed to be that it was a small knock but a more detailed look has revealed that McGoldrick is potentially facing months on the sidelines.
It’s a huge blow to Mick McCarthy and to Martin O’Neill too.
McGoldrick had already started the new Championship campaign well, scoring in the 4-2 opening-day win over Barnsley, and his latest injury has led to his manager recalling veteran Luke Varney, having released him in the summer.
O’Neill likes McGoldrick, with the attacker unlucky not to make the final Euro 2016 squad after shining against the Netherlands in a warm-up fixture in Dublin.
With Robbie Keane expected to step away from the international scene, there’s an opportunity for fringe strikers to stake more of a claim.
But the latest injury could ensure McGoldrick misses four World Cup qualifiers – against Serbia, Georgia, Moldova and Austria.
Ireland’s first assignment is in Belgrade on 5 September.
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