Long ruled out, Best doubtful for first leg

AS feared, Shane Long is definitely out of Ireland’s two European Championship play-off games against Estonia, having failed to recover in time from a knee injury.

The West Brom striker will, however, be in Dublin for the second leg tomorrow week to lend his support to the team as they bid to qualify for the finals in Poland and Ukraine next summer. And late last night, the FAI announced Portsmouth’s Liam Lawrence is out of the squad, the winger having suffered an ankle injury.

Sunderland’s John O’Shea is still hopeful of playing in second leg, although the full-back has not recovered in time from a hamstring injury to be fit for the first game in Tallinn on Friday. O’Shea is expected to link up with the squad next weekend.