JAMES MCCLEAN IS the latest player to be ruled out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the crunch World Cup qualifier against Germany.
An FAI spokesperson confirmed that the winger will miss Friday’s game in the Aviva Stadium and is also a doubt for the trip to the Faroe Islands, adding another key name to Giovanni Trapattoni’s long list of injury worries.
McClean played the full 90 minutes for Sunderland in their 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday but was said to be struggling with a groin injury after the match.
A scan on Tyneside on Monday morning revealed that 23-year-old has suffered a hip flexor strain, and now faces a race against time if he is to be fit enough to travel to Torshavn in eight days’ time.
“The results of James McClean’s scan this morning in Sunderland showed a grade one hip flexor strain which will certainly rule him out for the Germany match and may exclude him for the Faroe Islands,” an FAI spokesperson confirmed.
“McClean will remain at his club to receive treatment.”
Trapattoni has called Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark into his injury-ravaged squad, which met to train for the first time in Malahide on Monday.
With Sean St Ledger (hamstring) joining Richard Dunne on the injured list, the Italian included Clark to provide extra cover in defence.
Trapattoni also confirmed that Glenn Whelan is unlikely to feature in either qualifier after the midfielder limped off with a hamstring injury 20 minutes in to Stoke City’s scoreless draw against Liverpool on Sunday.
– Additional reporting by AFP
