Goalkeeper Colin Doyle has joined Andy Reid on the treatment table and will take no part in the Republic of Ireland's training camp in Portugal after Giovanni Trapattoni and his squad jetted off to the Algarve without him this afternoon.

Doyle damaged cartilage in his knee during last night's session in Malahide and it was decided soon before the squad's departure at 5pm that he was to return to Birmingham for treatment.

Trapattoni will make a decision on whether or not to replace him in the squad tomorrow. The manager is already without first choice goalkeeper Shay Given and will choose one from Nicky Henderson, Darren Randolph and Paddy Kenny if he decides to replace Doyle in the squad to face Serbia and Colombia later this month, though Kenny is believed to be suffering from a knee injury as well.

Last night's session also proved costly for Sunderland midfielder Reid who earlier returned to Wearside in the hope of recovery from a hamstring strain in time for the forthcoming friendlies.

New manager Giovanni Trapattoni is already without Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and John O'Shea while the Celtic pair of Aiden McGeady and Darren O'Dea will only join up with the party next week due to club commitments.

As it stands, of Trapattoni's squad of 28 for the two matches only 20 have travelled to Portugal.

"We will look at their conditioning (in the Algarve) and we have two friendly games arranged so we can check their form," said Trapattoni after the game. "We will know from that if they need more training or less training. This is because they have come in after the year's campaign (with their clubs).

"This is important so that we can arrive at the games against Serbia and Colombia in good shape."

He added: "The two training sessions we have had have gone very well. It is very clear that the players want to learn and advance as a group.

"The tactical and technical work we did today was done very slowly so I could explain to the players exactly what it is I am looking for from them.

"Over the week in Portugal we will do a lot more work at a greater intensity and I am happy that we will be ready for the match against Serbia."