Another one bites the dust

DARRON GIBSON has become the latest player to withdraw from an ever-diminishing Ireland squad for Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Skopje, having notified the management team that he will be unavailable with a groin problem.

Giovanni Trapattoni is clearly less than impressed with the late withdrawal by the Manchester United player who last turned out for his club in the Champions League second-leg semi-final defeat of Schalke 04 on May 4 but who was expected to join up with the Irish squad after Saturday night’s final at Wembley.

However, the manager opted for a jocular tone when breaking the news to the media at Gannon Park yesterday.