Hobbling Hendrick withdraws from World Cup squad

The worrying sight since the weekend of Jeff Hendrick “hobbling around on crutches” in the words of his manager Nigel Clough was followed yesterday by the expected confirmation from the FAI that the Derby County midfielder is now out of the Irish squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.

The 21-year-old missed the Rams’ 5-0 home victory over League One side Brentford in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night after sustaining a chipped bone in his ankle in the league win at Yeovil last weekend.

Hendrick has already had a scan on the injury but, in order to determine the full extent of the damage, is set to see a specialist tomorrow.

“He won’t be any good for Saturday,” said Clough. “We hope [his return] is not too long after that, but we will get that confirmed towards the weekend. He is still in a bit of pain and hobbling around on crutches.”

There are no plans as yet to call up a replacement for Hendrick to the Irish squad.

In better news from Derby for Giovanni Trapattoni, Clough praised Ireland striker Conor Sammon after he scored twice in the trouncing of Brentford.

“Conor has had to sit it out in recent weeks on the bench,” said the manager, “but he did himself no harm at all with his performance and two goals.”

Meanwhile, rookie international striker Paddy Madden says his recent senior debut against Wales — and retention in the Ireland squad for the World Cup games — has given him a massive boost in confidence.

The Yeovil player said: “To represent your country at senior level is what every little kid who likes football in Ireland dreams of and to get that opportunity is magnificent. The gaffer [Trapattoni] said I did very well so I will take that and for a manager of such high quality to say that is a bonus.

The Dubliner added: “I will now concentrate on doing well week-in, week-out for Yeovil and hopefully that second cap will come.”

Yeovil boss Gary Johnson hopes Madden’s international debut can have a positive knock-on effect, saying: “I was surprised he didn’t get a call-up last year but it helps with his confidence.”

In other news of potentially considerable significance for Ireland’s World Cup hopes, Trapattoni will have been pleased to see Anthony Pilkington returning to action after injury and scoring in Norwich City’s 6-3 Capital Cup win over Bury on Tuesday.

Norwich manager Chris Hughton described Pilkington’s return as “a positive” but, more ominously for Ireland perhaps, the Canaries boss reserved his highest praise for Sweden striker Johan Elmander, who grabbed a brace in the same game.

“I was delighted with Johan,” he said. “He has got quality and he is a player who I think has changed his game a little bit now with experience. There were certain moments and touches that showed that. He has good game awareness.”

Meanwhile, it is understood Trapattoni will take in West Ham v Stoke City at Upton Park on Saturday before linking up with his squad in Dublin the following day to begin preparations for the Sweden game at the Aviva on Friday, September 6.