Martin O’Neill hit with injury blow ahead of Ireland’s crunch double-header against Germany and Poland

Getting harder.

The Republic of Ireland are heading into the decisive week of Martin O'Neill's reign with the games against Germany in Dublin on Thursday and Poland in Warsaw next Sunday deciding our Euro 2016 fate. By the end of this day next week we will know whether we are qualified for the tournament in France, into a two-legged play-off next month or watching enviously at home as the festivities unfold next summer. But O'Neill has been dealt a blow before these vital games with the news that Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has been ruled out of both matches with a quad injury. Clark started in the victories over Georgia and Gibraltar last month and would have certainly been in the starting XI against the world champions on Thursday night. On the back of the suspensions to Glenn Whelan and James McClean, the injury to Clark forces O'Neill to further reshuffle his already thin pack. Seamus Coleman has been named in the squad but O'Neill faces an anxious wait to see if he is passed fit to play for Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby. Harry Arter and Stephen Quinn have also been ruled out of both games through injury. The revised Ireland squad, who will arrive in Dublin today ahead of this huge week for Irish football, is as follows: Goalkeepers David Forde Shay Given Darren Randolph Defenders 
Richard Keogh Seamus Coleman Cyrus Christie John O'Shea Alex Pearce Paul McShane Stephen Ward Robbie Brady Marc Wilson Midfielders James McCarthy Jeff Hendrick Glenn Whelan Aiden McGeady James McClean Alan Judge David Meyler Wes Hoolahan Eunan O'Kane Forwards Robbie Keane Shane Long Daryl Murphy Jonathan Walters Kevin Doyle David McGoldrick