Soccer:Coventry City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming Carling Nations Cup games and the June 4th Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia.
Westwood was known to be a doubt after being named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s extended squad yesterday but has now officially succumbed to a troublesome shoulder injury.
Former Ireland under-21 and current Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph has been called up in his place, but Westwood’s unavailability will concern Trapattoni, considering how well the player coped in Shay Given’s absence against Macedonia and Uruguay in March.
Given is expected to have recovered sufficiently from his own shoulder injury in time for the return trip to Skopje in June, if not the meetings with Northern Ireland (May 24th) and Scotland (May 29th). However, any setback in his recovery would leave the manager with two uncapped options in the shape of either Randolph or Millwall’s David Forde.
Trapattoni had already lost the services of Fulham winger Damien Duff, who was finally forced to concede defeat in his bid to overcome a long-standing Achilles problem and is out for the rest of the season.
There are also concerns over the fitness of striker Kevin Doyle and defenders Seán St Ledger and Darren O'Dea.
There was some positive news today, however - though not if you are a Wes Hoolahan fan. West Bromwich Albion forward Simon Cox has also been called up, with the FAI expecting his passport application to be processed soon.
Cox, whose grandmother was born in Galway, had a prolific record with League One side Swindon Town before moving to Albion in the summer of 2009.
Last season he scored nine goals in the Championship but has found them harder to come by in the top flight, netting only once in the league, though he has scored four in the Carling Cup.
The former Reading player made clear his desire to play for Ireland nearly 18 months ago, but was reluctant to force the issue and it now appears his patience has been rewarded.
"If Giovanni Trapattoni or anyone from the FAI gave me a call then the first thing I'd say would be 'yes, I'd be delighted to come on board'," he told the News of the Worldin 2009. "When I was at Reading, I regularly told Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt about my availability. We didn't go into huge detail about it – because it's not their responsibility to pick the team.
“But they know – and hopefully Mr Trapattoni knows – that if a call is made that I’d give a positive response. I don’t want to be cheeky about it and force the issue because ultimately it is the manager’s decision. It’s important to be respectful about a situation like this. I’d be very proud to get the chance – not just for me but also my Nan, who I’m very close to.”
