Four player withdrawals from Ireland squad with Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher ruled out

Caoimhin Kellehe is one of four players ruled out

Caoimhin Kellehe is one of four players ruled out Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)

Stephen Kenny’s bad luck on the injury front continues to wreak havoc on his plans with news on Sunday that Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Hourihane, Kevin Long and Callum O’Dowda have all been ruled out for Wednesday night’s qualifier against Serbia and Saturday’s qualifier against Luxembourg. 

Kelleher was on course to take the number 1 jersey this week, replacing the injured Darren Randolph, who has played all eight games since Kenny’s arrival. The Liverpool goalkeeper has been ruled out with an abdominal injury, which has kept him out of the Liverpool squad over the past couple of weeks. 

Conor Hourihane has been in good form for Swansea City in the Championship and was set for his 25th appearance for Ireland on Wednesday night. However, a hamstring injury forced him off just 18 minutes into Swansea’s 1-0 defeat at home to Cardiff and will now miss the games on Wednesday and Saturday. 

Callum O’Dowda misses out with a hamstring injury. O’Dowda left the pitch in tears after 88 minutes in Bristol City’s game against Rotherham at the weekend, and it is unclear the extent of the 25-year old’s injury. 

Kevin Long has also been ruled out, with the latter having only played twice for Burnley since the turn of the year, including one substitute appearance. 

Blackburn’s Darragh Lenihan and West Ham’s Conor Coventry have both been called up to the squad. Lenihan has two appearances for his country, back in 2018, while it is a first call up for Coventry, who did feature regularly for Kenny with the u21’s.

It is all more bad news for Kenny and his team’s preparations for the World Cup qualifiers. He is already without John Egan, Jack Byrne, Harry Arter and James McCarthy and Adam Idah who all miss out through injury.

James McClean and Aaron Connolly are doubts, despite being named in the squad. Kenny is yet to register a win as Ireland manager and will be hoping to get their Qatar campaign off to a good start. 

The Ireland team assembled in Manchester on Sunday morning, and will train there on Monday, before flying to Belgrade for their clash with Serbia on Wednesday evening. 

Republic of Ireland squad - Serbia, Luxembourg & Qatar

Goalkeepers: Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Gavin Bazunu (Rochdale, on loan from Manchester City), Kieran O'Hara (Burton Albion).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders: Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Jayson Molumby (Preston North End, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Jason Knight (Derby County), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Conor Coventry (West Ham United).

Wingers: Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McClean (Stoke City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).

Strikers: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Shane Long (AFC Bournemouth, on loan from Southampton), James Collins (Luton Town), Troy Parrott (Ipswich Town, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).



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