Medical staff to assess McShane knock

Medical staff to assess McShane knock

The Republic of Ireland team’s medical staff will tomorrow assess the damage suffered by full-back Paul McShane after he sustained an ankle injury in training ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie against Bulgaria in Sofia (6.30 pm ko).
5th Jun 2009
The Republic of Ireland team’s medical staff will tomorrow assess the damage suffered by full-back Paul McShane after he sustained an ankle injury in training ahead of Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie against Bulgaria in Sofia (6.30 pm ko).

McShane is now manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s biggest injury worry after the other players who missed training this week all had a run out at Arsenal’s training complex at London Colney today before they departed from Luton Airport to Sofia.

Richard Dunne (left) has been receiving treatment since Ireland played Nigeria on Friday last. He was involved late in today’s training session when he was included as Ireland practised their set-piece plays.

Goalkeeper Shay Given, team captain Robbie Keane and striker Caleb Folan were also involved and the belief is that they will all be recovered sufficiently to be included in Trapattoni’s squad selection tomorrow.

Folan missed the match against Nigeria and in the absence of the injured Kevin Doyle he is a candidate for inclusion as partner to Robbie Keane.

Trapattoni has stated that Ireland will adopt their usual formation and he has to choose between Folan, Leon Best and Shane Long to fill the position as second striker.

Trapattoni has several options if McShane is forced out – he could play John O’Shea at right-back and bring Sean St. Ledger in as centre-back or he could select one of several specialist full-backs in the squad.

Trapattoni will announce his team selection after Ireland’s squad have trained at the Vasil Levski Stadium tomorrow evening.