St Ledger blow for qualifiers

In a fresh blow for Giovanni Trapattoni, Sean St Ledger now looks set to miss next month’s World Cup qualifiers with a knee injury that could keep him out of action for six weeks.

The centre-half sustained the injury in training ahead of Leicester City’s goalless draw with Leeds on Sunday and was immediately withdrawn from the Irish panel for tomorrow’s friendly against Wales.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is hopeful St Ledger might recover more quickly but even the most optimistic prognosis makes it seem unlikely that he could report for duty in time for Ireland’s games at home to Sweden and away to Austria.