Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and Shay Given have all been ruled out for Irelands Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany.
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill today ruled out any chance of a last minute return from Coleman, McCathry or Given for Irelands next two Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Seamus Coleman has been nursing a hamstring problem for the last few weeks, which will keep him from appearing for Ireland over the next few days, while Everton manager Roberto Martinez indicated that he wants McCarthy to rest his thigh injury.
Goalkeeper Shay Given has been ruled out due to a hip injury he picked up.
O’Neill said “He’s picked up a hip injury that needs some sort of attention, and he thinks now might be the best time to get it done, to get it sorted out. It’s been bothering him for a little while.
“We talked it over ourselves and thought maybe this might be the best chance so that he is clear, just in case anything happens to him in the next couple of months at club level, for instance if he did go out on loan or something like that, that he would be absolutely right for it.”
With Coleman ruled out for the qualifiers Ireland are left with no natural right backs in the team.
Former Cork City player Brian Lenihan who recently joined Hull City is expected to be called up to the squad, and will join them later on today and will train with the squad tomorrow.
O’Neill said “I was speaking to some of the lads here at Hull, who said he has settled in well, and of course he is delighted to be coming.