Breen out of World Cup qualifiers

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has lost another defender to injury ahead of his side’s triple bill of fixtures in the next fortnight.

Kerr, without the services of Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne, who underwent a double ankle operation before the end of the season, has now seen Sunderland’s Gary Breen withdraw.

The 31-year-old has failed to recover from a knee injury sustained in the final game of Sunderland’s promotion- winning campaign from the Coca-Cola Championship, a 1-0 win at home to Stoke.