IRELAND FANS’ WORST fears were confirmed last night with the news Alan Judge sustained a double leg break during Brentford’s Championship clash against Ispwich.
The midfielder, who recently made his Ireland debut, has had his Euro 2016 dreams cruelly shattered and his injury is another setback for Martin O’Neill just eight weeks out from the tournament.
Judge has arguably been the Championship’s player of the season and, according to reports, was being linked with a Premier League move in the summer.
Ireland’s injury list is lengthening and with just two months until the campaign opener against Sweden, there are serious concerns over the fitness of key players.
Jon Walters
The Stoke forward underwent surgery to rectify a knee problem last week and will face a race against time to return to full fitness before Ireland’s opening game against Sweden on 13 June.
Walters missed both of the Easter friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia and is now set to be sidelined for between four and six weeks.
Mark Hughes refused to rule the 32-year-old for the rest of the reason but last week admitted he was surprised by the severity of the injury.
Marc Wilson
Wilson has been sidelined since January with a knee injury he sustained in the FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace but Stoke say ‘he’s not far away’ from returning to first-team action.
The defender was ruled out for three months with medial ligament damage to the knee but is now nearing the end of his rehab programme.
Wilson has established himself as a regular in the Irish defence and O’Neill will be encouraged to hear of his progress given his worth as a versatile operator.
Kevin Doyle
The striker was given the opportunity to work his way into O’Neill’s plans with a start against Switzerland but his evening was cut short after he suffered a gruesome cut to his leg.
The prognosis wasn’t as bad as first feared but the deep laceration to his calf required immediate surgery and the Colorado Rapids forward is expected to spend the next five weeks in the treatment room.
Robbie Keane
Another player who was absent from the recent double-header and on his return to America went under the knife.
Keane is expected to make a full recovery in time for Ireland’s final warm-up games against Netherlands and Belarus but his lack of game time will be a concern.
The LA Galaxy striker hasn’t played since last month and will be out of action for another five weeks.
Alan Judge
The second player to be ruled out of this summer’s Championships at such an early stage. Judge was on the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Ipswich’s Luke Hyam and is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
It’s a devastating blow for a player who had waited so long to make his international debut and was set to be part of O’Neill’s squad for France.
Judge received eight minutes of treatment on the pitch at Portman Road and was given oxygen by the paramedics.
Rob Elliot
Like Judge, Newcastle’s Rob Elliot will miss Euro 2016 after being ruled out for six months.
The goalkeeper was reduced to tears when he heard of his fate after he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage during the Boys in Green’s 2-2 draw with Slovakia.
Elliot sustained the injury as he dived in an attempt to keep out Miroslav Stoch’s early opener at the Aviva Stadium only only his second start for Ireland.
Harry Arter
Arter’s season has been plagued by niggling injuries and just when it seems he’s enjoying an extended run, the Bournemouth midfielder is dealt another setback.
He didn’t feature during the qualification campaign after making his debut against England last summer and is in danger of missing out when O’Neill needs to trim his panel down to 23.
He is currently sidelined with a shin/calf injury and although it’s not serious, a return date is not yet known.
Daryl Murphy
The Ipswich striker suffered a calf injury while on international duty and has yet to return to action after missing the game against Brentford yesterday.
Murphy was one of five forwards in O’Neill’s recent squad who all returned to their club nursing injuries following the international break.
The full extent of his latest injury has yet to be determined after the Waterford man teared his calf muscle in the win over Switzerland.
It is the fourth time the 33-year-old has suffered an injury to his calf and could be a doubt for the tournament.
Jeff Hendrick
The midfielder is expected to return before the tournament but may not play for Derby County again this season after tearing a muscle in his thigh.
Hendrick will miss Derby’s promotion push and having established himself in Ireland’s engine room, he is the latest injury concern for O’Neill.
Article updated at 14.30 to include Jeff Hendrick
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
