Long losing fitness fight

Shane Long has lost ground in his race to be fit for next weekend’s European Championship play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It was hoped that the striker would be in line for a return for Southampton in their game against Sunderland tomorrow but Saints manager Ronald Koeman yesterday ruled out Long’s last chance to get an outing with his club before the first leg of the play-off in Zenica next Friday.

Ireland’s goal hero against Germany suffered an ankle injury in the final group qualifier against Poland in Warsaw, forcing him out of the 2-1 defeat which consigned Martin O’Neill’s team to the play-offs.