LAST UPDATE | 20 Mar 2021
CONOR HOURIHANE AND Callum O’Dowda have emerged as injury concerns for Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.
Ireland are scheduled to begin their 2022 World Cup qualification campaign away to Serbia on Wednesday night.
Both players – named in Kenny’s squad this week – were forced off during their respective club games today in the Championship.
Hourihane, who’s on loan at Swansea City from Aston Villa, lasted just 18 minutes as his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff City in the Welsh derby.
The 30-year-old midfielder picked up a hamstring injury while attempting to win possession in a challenge with Cardiff’s Leandro Bacuna.
O’Dowda was in tears as he left the field with an unspecified leg injury in the 88th minute of Bristol City’s 2-0 defeat to Rotherham United, having only recently returned from a three-month lay-off.
The 25-year-old winger was making his first start since suffering a hamstring injury in December. He marked his return to action with a goal after coming off the bench in last weekend’s win against Birmingham City.
Of Hourihane, Swansea City manager Steve Cooper said: “I am not sure of the extent of his hamstring injury. He has come off, but I am not sure how bad it is – that, we will find out over the next few days. It seems he might not go away [with Ireland], but I don’t want to rule him in or out at the moment.”
Ireland are already without the services of Darren Randolph, John Egan, James McCarthy, Jack Byrne and Adam Idah for Wednesday’s game in Belgrade, which will be followed next Saturday by a home fixture against Luxembourg.
Having captained Blackburn Rovers to a 1-1 draw away to Championship leaders Norwich City today, centre-back Darragh Lenihan has been added to Stephen Kenny’s squad. It’s unclear yet if Lenihan’s call-up is a consequence of a defensive withdrawal.
