Gibson facing op on thigh injury

Whatever faint chance there might have been of Darron Gibson returning to the international fold this season appears to have disappeared with news he is likely to undergo surgery in a bid to rectify a recurring thigh problem.

Ireland have a busy end of season schedule, with friendlies against England, Georgia and Spain and a World Cup qualifier at home to the Faroe Islands between the end of May and early June but, according to Everton manager David Moyes, those games now look set to coincide with Gibson going under the knife.

The midfielder has exiled himself from the Irish set-up since the Euros last summer, despite attempts by Giovanni Trapattoni to get him back on board. Overall, the 25-year-old has missed almost four months with the thigh injury this season but although back in the Everton team now, he hasn’t fully shaken off the problem.