Finnan doubtful for Cyprus showdown

STEVE FINNAN is an injury worry for Ireland’s World Cup qualifier with Cyprus at Croke Park next month after the new Espanyol recruit suffered a thigh strain on Wednesday — ruling him out for at least three weeks.

The former Liverpool full-back picked up the injury on his debut for the club in the defeat at Sevilla and he will now miss the city derby as neighbours Barcelona visit on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni will run the rule over some of his promising youngsters in the run-up to the clash with Cyprus.