Cork City's new signing Liam O'Brien is out of tonight's UEFA Cup tie with IFK Gothenburg (Network 2, kick-off 6.0). The former Manchester United, Newcastle and Tranmere Rovers midfielder failed a late fitness test on his damaged hamstring at the Ullevi Stadium last evening and is forced to sit out what would have been his first European match in over a decade.
"I am bitterly disappointed, who wouldn't be? It's a big occasion, a great stadium and I desperately wanted to be involved," said O'Brien.
"I didn't want to let anyone down by playing if I wasn't fully match-fit. I had to think of our upcoming league programme as well, but it's a bitter blow to miss out on this match," he added.
Cork's team captain, Declan Daly, also sat out last night's training session at the match venue after he aggravated an old knee injury. Daly, however, has a 90 per cent chance of captaining the team again tonight.
Portadown could take legal steps to ensure new striker Tony Sheridan plays in today's daunting clash with CSKA Sofia at Shamrock Park. Manager Ronnie McFall is hoping to include Sheridan in his line-up having registered the out-of-contract signing with UEFA and the Northern Ireland soccer authorities before the deadline.
But the FAI have declined to issue international clearance as Shelbourne claimed they had a private agreement with the player.
Linfield head to Georgian outfit Lokomotiv Tbilisi for their UEFA Cup qualifying round first leg tie.
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