Trap waits on injured Irish as Duff in fitness race

DECLINING to call up any squad replacements, at least for the moment, Giovanni Trapattoni is adopting a wait and see policy with regard to the injured Irish trio of Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady and Caleb Folan.

Fulham have confirmed the player had a scan on the muscle problem which forced him to retire early in the game against Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Sunday. And they are sticking to their initial prognosis that Duff could be out for two to three weeks. But other informed sources have indicated that the problem is of a “low grade” nature, raising hopes that Duff might yet be available for the games against Italy and Montenegro on October 10 and 14 respectively.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is expected to shed more light on the winger’s injury at a lunchtime press conference today, ahead of the club’s Europa League game at home to FC Basle tomorrow night. Fulham also have a Premiership date away to West Ham on Sunday, before Duff, if fit to travel, would be scheduled to join his colleagues in Dublin on the following Tuesday to begin the build-up to the crunch World Cup qualifiers.