Finnan's fate confirmed but he hopes to face Faroes

Liverpool defender Steve Finnan has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier with Israel tomorrow.

The player has failed to recover from a thigh injury sustained in last week’s Champions League final in Istanbul.

Ireland manager Brian Kerr is confident the Limerick born defender will be fit in time to face the Faroe Islands next Wednesday.

Kerr would not be drawn today at a press conference this afternoon at Lansdowne Road as to a defensive reshuffle.

The absence of Steve Carr and now Finnan means the right-back berth could be filled by Manchester United player John O’Shea or Steven Reid of Blackburn Rovers, with Ian Harte making a return to international duty.