Midfield dilemma for Trap

A change in personnel is unavoidable and a change in formation a real possibility as Ireland prepare to take on Germany in the teeth of what Giovanni Trapattoni admits is the biggest injury crisis of his time as manager of Ireland.

Having already lost Damien Duff and Shay Given to retirement and Richard Dunne to injury, two more players who were automatic starters in the European Championship campaign have now fallen by the wayside, with Glenn Whelan and Sean St Ledger ruled out by injury.

Also on the list of absentees are Kevin Doyle and James McClean, with Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark getting a belated call-up yesterday to provide additional cover at the back.