| Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 27 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Live text commentary and match report on the BBC Sport website |
Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny says Aaron Connolly has not yet been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg in Dublin.
An earlier Football Association of Ireland tweet said the Brighton striker would miss Saturday’s qualifier and Tuesday’s friendly against Qatar.
However Kenny later said the 21-year-old was “up against it” to be fit.
Connolly recently returned to club action after a rib injury and lasted 67 minutes in Wednesday’s loss in Serbia.
Kenny was speaking in his pre-match news conference for the must-win Aviva Stadium contest some two hours after the FAI tweeted that injury had forced Connolly to return to his club.
The FAI tweet was later deleted.
The Brighton striker was at the centre of a second-half penalty controversy in Wednesday’s game when a challenge by Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic went unpunished and then appeared to be bothered by a calf injury prior to coming off.
James Collins, who scored the Republic’s late second goal in Belgrade, and Shane Long will be candidates to start on Saturday after their second-half introductions if Connolly is ruled out.
The doubts over Connolly’s fitness the latest in a series of injury issues for Republic boss Kenny who is yet to secure a victory in his opening nine games in charge.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Kevin Long, Conor Hourihane and Callum O’Dowda were all unable to travel to Belgrade after being named in the initial squad.
Liverpool keeper Kelleher’s absence came after regular starter Darren Randolph was unable to take his place in the squad because of injury.
Bournemouth’s Mark Travers was handed the goalkeeping jersey in Belgrade and came in for some criticism after being lobbed by Aleksandar Mitrovic for Serbia’s second goal after Alan Browne had put the Republic ahead in the first half.
Burton Albion’s Kieran O’Hara, who has two caps, and uncapped Manchester City player Gavin Bazunu, who has had the most first-team football of the three Irish custodians this season during his loan spell at Rochdale, are the other keepers in Kenny’s squad.
Other injured absentees include James McCarthy, John Egan and Adam Idah.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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