THERE WAS MORE bad news for Ireland manager Martin O’Neill today as it was confirmed that Daryl Murphy will miss the World Cup qualifier with Wales this Friday.
The Newcastle United striker, who scored the vital equaliser in last year’s 2-2 draw away to Serbia, has returned to his club after having a scan on a calf injury.
Murphy joins the suspended Robbie Brady as well as Shane Duffy (broken metatarsal), Wes Hoolahan (quad), Ciaran Clark (knee), Harry Arter (calf), Paul McShane (hamstring), Rob Elliot (knee) and David McGoldrick (knee) on the growing list of unavailable players.
There’s also a major doubt over the fitness of James McCarthy (hamstring), while Seamus Coleman (ankle), Jonny Hayes (ankle) and Shane Long (post-match recovery) sat out this morning’s session as a precaution but all three are expected to return on Wednesday.
“James didn’t train today and I would say very doubtful,” said assistant manager Roy Keane. “I think he had another scan yesterday and I think he might have done a bit of running with Dan (Horan) today, but if he wasn’t to join in the group tomorrow then he’s highly unlikely to be involved on Friday.
It’s just too close to the game with the type of injury he’s got, which is recurring.”
Keane added: “We’d expect Seamus to train tomorrow and hopefully Hayes as well. I suppose with the injuries we have, we’ll give them boys an extra 24 hours just to sit it out. We’d expect those two lads to train.
“There’s no injury with Shane. He is still doing his recovery from the game on Sunday. James McCarthy would be the biggest doubt.”
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