Soccer:Reading striker Noel Hunt has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-offs against France and looks set to be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery last night on a long-standing knee injury.
The news will further hinder Giovanni Trapattoni’s options up front, given Caleb Folan is doubtful because of a hamstring strain and Leon Best is also struggling with a knee injury.
More pertinently, however, it may end any hopes Hunt had of travelling to the World Cup should Ireland manage to qualify for the finals that begin in South Africa in June next year.
"Noel's been struggling with the injury on and off for some time now," Reading boss Brendan Rogers told getreading.co.uktoday.
“He’s having the operation to help sort things out and that will probably rule him out for the rest of the season.”
With captain Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle both fit, Hunt was never going to be a starter in either game but he has made an impact in this campaign from the bench, with an impressive performance against Italy in Bari.
He was then one of the few who emerged with any credit from the 0-0 draw in the dead-rubber against Montenro at Croke Park earlier this month.
Ireland face France in Dublin on Saturday, November 14th, and will then travel to Paris for the return leg on the 18th.
Trapattoni will name his squad for the games tomorrow afternoon and there are likely to be recalls for midfielder Steven Reid and Portsmouth defender Steve Finnan.
Hunt’s club-mate Darren O’Dea, meanwhile, is fit again after recovering from a groin problem.
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