McGeady and Pilkington miss out

Soccer:Aiden McGeady and Anthony Pilkington have been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against Poland in Dublin next Wednesday. Spartak Moscow winger McGeady is suffering from an ongoing ankle injury while Pilkington pulled his hamstring in the first half of Norwich’s goalless draw at QPR today.

The FAI said both players will remain at their clubs for treatment and an update will be issued later today should Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni decide to call in any replacements.

Pilkington, who had just received his first call-up to the Ireland squad on the back of some impressive performances for the Canaries, hobbled off after just 24 minutes at Loftus Road.

“Pilkington has a hamstring injury,” his manager Chris Hughton confirmed after the match. “We will assess how bad it is, but at the moment certainly we will be pulling him out of the Irish squad.”