Gibson withdraws from Ireland training squad

DARRON GIBSON was the most high-profile casualty as a decimated version of Ireland’s developmental squad gathered for the first day of their training camp in Malahide yesterday.

The Manchester United midfielder has withdrawn from the squad and will not be available for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Algeria because of a groin injury.

But he was hardly alone on the missing list on a day when assistant manager Marco Tardelli joked that he didn’t know exactly who would be available for tomorrow’s training game against the Irish U23s and then turned to FAI press officer Peter Sherrard to ask if he might be ready for a call-up.