Wolves striker Kevin Doyle will miss Ireland’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier with Macedonia next month after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury.
Having damaged ligaments in the victory over the eastern European side in March, the talismanic forward was brought back ahead of schedule by Wolves manager Mick McCarthy at the weekend in at attempt to boost his side’s chances of staying in the Premier League.
McCarthy had earlier suggested that Doyle wouldn’t feature again this season and it turns out he should have left him out after all as Doyle suffered a recurrence of the injury which is set to sideline him for another month.
As a result he will miss out on the clash with Macedonia in Skopje on 4 June as well as Carling Nations Cup clashes with Scotland and Northern Ireland later this month.
Thankfully for Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Reading’s Shane Long and Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters have been in flying form for their clubs of late, while he will also be able to call on Robbie Keane, who has been somewhat wasteful in front of goal lately and will soon be on the lookout for a new club after West Ham were relegated at the weekend.
Ireland are currently level on points with both Russia and Slovakia at the top of Group B and only two points ahead of Armenia, and a good showing in Skopje next month will be crucial if the Boys in Green are to stand any chance of qualifying for the tournament in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.
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