Ireland's injury concerns mount ahead of French and Dutch double-header
Ireland’s injury concerns for the upcoming Euro 2024 double-header qualification double-header are mounting with James McClean the latest player rated as doubtful.
Stephen Kenny’s side must get points from the trip to France and visit of the Netherlands on September 7 and 10 respectively to retrieve their hopes of claiming a top-two finish.
The Ireland boss was already planning without captain Séamus Coleman (knee), Mikey Johnston (back) and Michael Obafemi (hamstring) before another couple of casualties emerged this week.
Will Smallbone, who made his first competitive start in the defeat to Greece during the last window, shipped a heavy knock on the ankle at the weekend which his Southampton boss Russell Martin has now declared as worse than initially feared.
McClean, the latest member of the centurion club following his last outing against Gibraltar, is also a worry, having not appeared in Wrexham’s matchday squad on Tuesday night.
The recent glamour capture for the club co-owned by Ryan Reynolds and co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had been looking forward to his first appearance at the Racecourse Ground but reportedly sustained an unspecified injury before the game against Walsall.
Local reports suggest he could be sidelined for up to four weeks but the Derryman has previously displayed his powers of recovery to fast-track his comeback in time for international duty.
On McClean, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: "James McClean did a block tackle on Saturday to open up his knee up. Had to have a scan on Sunday. Not serious but will keep him out a couple of weeks.
Coleman’s knee problem necessitated surgery, ruling him out of the June double-header before Everton offered their skipper a contract
Read on irishexaminer.com
