Thornton out of UAE finals

Ireland’s Sean Thornton will miss the World Youth Championship finals in the United Arab Emirates at the end of the month.

The Sunderland midfielder withdrew from manager Gerry Smith’s squad of 20 this morning after he had an assessment done on his damaged ankle by Irish team doctors Martin Walsh and Ronan O'Callaghan.

Dr O'Callaghan will be travelling with the squad to the Emirates and along with senior team medic Dr Walsh they examined the extent of Thornton’s injury which has been troubling the player for some weeks.

Following examination of the injury in Dublin today it was agreed Thornton would not be fit for Ireland’s first game of the finals against Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 29.

"It's a great disappointment to lose a player of Sean’s ability but because of his injury he would not have been fit for our first game," said manager Gerry Smith.

"But we will just have to get on with it and bring in a replacement."

Smith hopes to be able to name a substitute for Thornton later today.