Elliott out for 'up to six weeks'

Republic of Ireland team newsSunderland striker Stephen Elliott is set to miss Ireland's two European championship qualifiers next month after having surgery on an ankle problem on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Dubliner will be out for "up to six weeks" according to his club leaving him with only a marginal chance of completing his recovery in advance of the games at Croke Park against Wales and Slovakia.

"Stephen's had an operation on his ankle," confirmed Sunderland boss Roy Keane yesterday. "he's been struggling with it for three or four weeks and it's similar to the problem he had with the other ankle.

"It's not a major disaster in terms of how long he'll be out," Keane continued. "Hopefully he will be back to finish the season well, his goals could be important for us."

Elliott has not played for Sunderland since January 20th when the club beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-2. It was his 23rd appearance of the season for the Irishman who has scored six times.

His only appearance for Ireland since the summer came against Germany in Stuttgart back in September and with Kevin Doyle well on course to be available next month there is little reason to expect he would have featured in either of the forthcoming games although Steve Staunton will be disappointed to have been deprived of the option at this early stage of the build-up to what will be regarded as a crucial week for the Ireland manager.

It has been confirmed, meanwhile, that Leicester City captain Paddy McCarthy faces an even longer lay-off with the former Ireland B international ruled out for the rest of the season after he had surgery on his shoulder.

The 23-year-old suffered a dislocation in a training ground accident before the 1-1 draw against Luton earlier this month and it quickly became apparent that the defender would require an operation.

"He had it and it went well," said City manager Rob Kelly, "but he won't play again this season which is disappointing because he is a leader on and off the pitch. The most important thing, though, is that he now gets himself right and is ready for the start of next season."

Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has paid tribute to the form, stamina and leadership skills of the club's Irish defender, Richard Dunne.

With the Dubliner having already played more than 30 times for City this season, Pearce was asked if he wished he was in a position to give his skipper a breather this weekend when the club is due to take on Preston in the FA Cup. "I don't wish I could get a rest into Richard," the manager said, "I wish I could get hold of two more players like him.

"I had to make a big, big call last summer and change captains and it wasn't easy for me, but sitting here at this stage of the season I feel I got that right. No doubt about it. Richard is a top man and has been a top player this season. He has been outstanding. He has shown signs of tiredness, of course he has, but we don't afford people that luxury.

"I watched the game at Portsmouth again on tape earlier this week," he continued, "and he did a phenomenal amount of good work winning headers and tackles. That is why he is captain of Manchester City. His heart is in the right place, and he genuinely has a feel for this club.

"The only big thing for me is not that I cannot give him a rest, but that I wished I had another Richard Dunne in my side (but) Micah (Richards), Sylvain (Distain) and Joey (Barton) all come into that category along with Dunney. You only have to pick a programme up to see who the frontline players have been this season."