Martin O’Neill’s forward options have been significantly depleted.
Jon Walters, Daryl Murphy, Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane. have all been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Slovakia on Tuesday.
Walters sat out Friday’s friendly against Switzerland with a hamstring injury, and despite hopes that the Stoke forward would be fit enough to feature in Tuesday’s friendly at the Aviva Stadium, the 32 year old was ruled out of contention on Saturday afternoon and has since returned to his club.
Ipswich Town striker Murphy was a substitute during Ireland’s 1-0 win against the Swiss, but has returned to his club with a calf strain. While both Doyle and Keane won’t feature on Tuesday.
Ireland captain Keane has a knee injury, while Doyle was stretchered off against Switzerland, with a nasty looking injury, but tweeted on Saturday afternoon that he hopes to return to action in a few weeks.
https://twitter.com/KevinDoyle1983/status/713694575286730753
That leaves Shane Long as the only fit striker available to Ireland manager Martin O’Neill for Tuesday’s friendly.
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