THERE WAS MIXED news in the Irish camp today after a weekend in which several players featured for their clubs.
Giovanni Trapattoni will have been relieved to hear that both Shay Given and Aiden McGeady are likely to be available for their game with Slovakia on Friday.
However, Keith Fahey has been forced to withdraw from the squad, as he faces surgery on a groin problem.
Russia themselves have injury problems, with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev being ruled out, after he was injured during Spartak Moscow’s draw with CSKA on Sunday.
The same match also featured Aiden McGeady’s return from an injury that has kept him out of action for the past six weeks.
The ex-Celtic man came on as a late substitute during the game, and is thus likely to be available for the match this Friday.
Meanwhile, Richard Dunne should also be fit despite suffering a back strain in Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw with Wolves at the weekend.
In addition, Russia boss Dick Advocaat has called up Dynamo Moscow keeper Anton Shunin as a late replacement for Akinfeev ahead of his side’s game with Ireland on 6 September.
Aside from these concerns, in addition to the questionable omission of James McCarthy, Ireland go into their crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers with all of their first-choice players fully fit.
Probable Ireland starting line-up v Slovakia: Given; O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff; Keane, Doyle.
