MARTIN O’NEILL’S PREPARATIONS for Scotland have been hit by a double injury blow in midfield.
Glenn Whelan faces up to six weeks on the sideline with a fractured leg while Wes Hoolahan is also a massive doubt for the trip to Glasgow.
Hoolahan damaged ankle ligaments in Norwich’s defeat against Fulham and went to see a specialist on Wednesday.
Canaries boss Neil Adams did not give a specific timeframe for his return but said he expects the playmaker to be out for “a number of weeks.”
Even the most optimistic prognosis would leave Hoolahan facing a race to be fit for Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualifier on 14 November.
Adams said: ”It’s a shame. Obviously you keep your fingers crossed but it’s going to be number of weeks before he’s back with us unfortunately.”
Whelan’s fracture occurred during Ireland’s 1-1 draw against Germany earlier this month, Stoke City manager Mark Hughes said.
“There is a slight fracture, but he hasn’t been put into a plaster cast. We feel that he can come back sooner by avoiding that.
“It is a blow for him and it is a blow for us because we are likely to be without him for four to six weeks.
“It is disappointing but thankfully we have options in there.”