Doyle ruled out of Bulgaria clash

KEVIN DOYLE was last night ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s crucial World Cup Group 8 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia next month, after being told he faces between four and six weeks on the sidelines.

The Reading striker underwent a MRI scan on his injured Achilles yesterday and will also miss Reading’s Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Burnley tonight and the final should the Royals beat the Clarets.

Doyle, Ireland’s player of the year, picked up the injury during the first half of Saturday’s first leg and, as revealed in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, immediately became a major doubt for the trip to Sofia on June 6th.