Ireland Manager Martin O’Neill is having trouble finding a fit goalkeeper in his squad to play the Euro Cup playoffs this month.
Stoke City goalkeeper, Shay Given will miss both the playoff matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina as he is preparing for a knee surgery.
Given was in bench for Stoke when they beat Chelsea in the Capital One Cup but, after a knock on the knee on training he is set for a surgery. According the Stoke Manager, the player ‘ has got a piece of loose bone on his knee’.
Also, further to add to the goalkeeping trouble, Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot is also struggling with a thigh injury despite playing against Stoke City last week. Newcastle manager Steve McClaren reported that Elliot will be a major doubt for the Toffies as they face Bournemouth next week.
If he does not make into the squad for Bournemouth fixture, it is almost certain that he also will be ruled out for Ireland’s travel to Zenica this month.
This leaves O’Neiil with just two fit goalkeepers in the squad. Randolph and David Forde. Both of them are second/third choices in their respective clubs.
The play-offs against Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered as a rather easy fixture for the Irish team but Will goalkeeper trouble cost them a wildcard access the the 2016 Euro Cup? Comment
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