Tierney fails to make it to Tirana

PAUL TIERNEY is out of the Republic of Ireland’s European U21 Championship qualifier against Albania this afternoon.

The Manchester United full-back currently on loan at Crewe failed to recover from the knee injury he aggravated against Georgia on Friday and flew home yesterday along with Nottingham Forest's Andy Reid, who is suspended for the Albania clash following his controversial red card against Georgia.

Irish boss Don Givens has moved Manchester City's Stephen Paisley to left-back and brought in Clifford Byrne of Scunthorpe beside Stockport's Jim Goodwin.

Brentford's Kevin O'Connor replaces the suspended Reid, while Givens is boosted by the return of Arsenal striker Graham Barrett who is on loan at Brighton as he drops back down from the senior squad after Robbie Keane flew in to Albania yesterday. Wes Hoolahan of Shelbourne makes way.