Folan lone injury worry for Staunton

CALEB FOLAN is the only confirmed casualty for Steve Staunton after a busy weekend of football in Britain, but the Irish manager still has to sweat through tonight’s FA Cup replays before his squad gather in Dublin for the European Championship qualifier against Wales on Saturday.

Wigan striker Folan, a surprise call-up for the latest Irish squad, injured an ankle in Saturday’s scoreless draw with Fulham. He has been replaced in Staunton’s panel by Andy Keogh, who recently joined Wolves from Scunthorpe. The in-form striker, in the squad for the last game in San Marino, was on target on Saturday, scoring a 90th minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

West Brom defender Paul McShane was another Irish name to get on the scoresheet in the Championship, grabbing a goal for his club in the 1-1 draw with Birmingham yesterday.

Tonight, Staunton will be keeping his fingers crossed that Robbie Keane and John O’Shea come through the FA Cup sixth round replays which see Spurs at home to Chelsea and Manchester United hosting Middlesbrough.

The Irish squad are to get their first taste of Croke Park with a training session at GAA headquarters tomorrow.