The news nobody wanted to hear.
Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long has been ruled out of the first leg play-off game in Bosnia.
The Southampton striker sustained an ankle injury during the last group game against Poland and he hasn’t played a minute of football since.
He stayed with the Premier League club this week to do his own work with the Saints’ medical and physiotherapy staff and, whilst Martin O’Neill was hoping for good news from the south coast of England, it has been confirmed that the Tipperary man will not travel to Bosnia with the national squad.
The management admitted that they had been preparing without Long anyway.
However, the Germany goal hero has not been ruled out for Monday’s return leg in Dublin.
“Shane Long will not be involved in Friday’s first leg as he will remain at Southampton for further treatment on his ankle injury,” the FAI confirmed. “But he has not been ruled out of next Monday’s second leg at the Aviva Stadium.”
Meanwhile, Brentford midfielder Alan Judge will join up with the squad on Wednesday night before departing for Bosnia on Thursday but Keiren Westwood has been ruled out with an ankle injury and is replaced by Charlton goalkeeper Stephen Henderson after O’Neill confirmed earlier that Rob Elliot would not travel with the squad.
With Jon Walters also set to miss the first leg in Bosnia along with Shane Long, Robbie Keane wants to be the man to fire Ireland to France.
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