Pilkington looks the man for Trap

Aiden McGeady’s difficulty could turn out to be Anthony Pilkington’s opportunity, as the winger’s withdrawal from the Irish squad is sure to prompt some deep thinking by Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of next Friday’s World Cup clash with Sweden.

McGeady pulled out of training at Spartak Moscow this week with an ongoing knee injury and, the FAI have now confirmed, will definitely miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Swedes and Austria, while Leicester City’s Sean St Ledger, who is still working his way back to full fitness after injuring his knee in early August, is another withdrawal.

Yeovil’s Paddy Madden is also out with a knee injury but not even the loss of the rookie striker has opened the door for Kevin Doyle, with Trapattoni – as he had previously signalled – now cutting his squad to 23. That also means Hull City’s David Meyler being moved to the stand-by list.