Darron Gibson is a major doubt for Ireland’s double header with Slovakia and Russia next weekend, opening the door for James McCarthy’s return to the squad.
Gibson suffered an ankle injury in training with Manchester United earlier this week and is set to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the injury. With only a week to go until the clash with Slovakia, Gibson’s participation in both games is now under serious threat.
The 23-year old is something of an outcast at the Red Devils at present, having failed to secure a move to Sunderland after being deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
He has been overtaken in the midfield pecking order at United by Tom Cleverley and could yet leave the club by the end of the transfer window, with Blackburn and Aston Villa thought to be interested in his services.
Despite his club situation and the fact that, some spectacular goals aside, he has so far infuriatingly failed to deliver in an Irish jersey, he looked set to partner Glenn Whelan in central midfield in the crucial Euro 2012 double header.
With Keith Andrews continuing to struggle with a groin injury and Keith Fahey the only other central midfield option in the squad, Giovanni Trapattoni may yet call on the talented James McCarthy to provide back-up.
McCarthy was one of a group of players, which also included Marc Wilson and Jonathan Walters, cut from the provisional squad, but has been named in the under-21 squad that will face Hungary in Sligo the night before Ireland take on Slovakia at the Aviva Stadium.
Although the stop start nature of his international career has largely been McCarthy’s own doing, many Irish supporters believe that Trapattoni can’t afford to leave a player of his calibre out of the squad.
If Gibson’s injury puts him out, the Wigan midfielder may get an overdue chance to impress.
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