Soccer:Newcastle striker Leon Best has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 qualification play-off tie against Estonia after West Brom manager Roy Hodgson dismissed Shane Long's chances of being fit for the games.
Hodgson is happy for Long to travel to Dublin and be assessed by the Irish medical staff, but has ruled out the Tipperary striker’s hopes of recovering from the knee injury suffered against Aston Villa 12 days ago for the two legs on November 11th and 15th.
Albion’s medical staff diagnosed a six week lay-off for the former Reading player and Hodgson today said: “Shane is not fit to play. The two doctors are in contact with each other and the Irish doctor knows that he is making good progress and we are working hard with him. But he is way off being fit to play a football match.
“If they want to prove that by inviting him over and sending him back again, that’s okay with me. But there is no way unfortunately he will be fit to play for us at the weekend or for Ireland. In fact, there is a lot of work to be done if he is going to be fit to play after the international break.”
Hodgson added: “Ireland might just want to see him anyway. To be fair, we’ve got the Monday off in this international break with a lot of players away.
“If Giovanni (Trapattoni) wants to see him and invite him over there, then fine, but there is no medical examination which will change what is an obvious verdict.
“It is going to take some time to heal. The initial suggestion was six weeks and Shane would like it to be quicker than that — but it certainly isn’t going to be two weeks.”
Best has been in superb form for the Magpies, and his partnership with Demba Ba has been a key feature of the club’s rise to third place in the Premier League table.
Defender John O’Shea is also losing his battle to be fit according to their club.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has already ruled O’Shea out of Saturday’s Premier League trip to former club Manchester United, and admits his chances of making the first leg in Tallinn next Friday night are remote.
Although O’Shea’s hamstring injury is on the lower end of the scale, Bruce believes he must be a major doubt for the first leg of the play-off.
“It’s not that bad. We think it’s a normal grade one,” said Bruce. “He’s certainly got no chance for Saturday, and looking at the first game for Ireland next Friday, I would have thought he’s a huge doubt for that as well, which is a shame for the lad.
“It’s typical of the luck he’s had, unfortunately, since he’s been here. They are probably the two biggest games he has been looking forward to. He might have a chance for the second one, but certainly I would have thought the first game would come a little bit too quickly for him.”
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