Strikers crisis for Trap as Long sidelined

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was last night facing the prospect of a striker crisis ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia after Shane Long was ruled was for up to six weeks.

Long suffered a knee injury when he was on the receiving end of a reckless lunge from Aston Villa’s Alan Hutton after 11 minutes in West Brom’s 2-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday.

Hutton’s challenge was labelled ‘wicked’ by West Brom manager Roy Hodgson, who admitted he feared the striker would be out for an extended spell. And last night a statement on West Brom’s website confirmed Long will face a significant lay-off.