Triple injury blow for Givens

Republic of Ireland U-21 boss Don Givens will be forced to make changes as he attempts to end his wait for a European Championship qualifying victory in Armenia.

Givens will be without suspended skipper Owen Garvan as well as injured duo Seamus Coleman and Sean Scannell in Yerevan tomorrow.

Coleman is out with an ankle injury while Scannell has a hamstring strain, prompting the manager to call up Bohemians striker Paddy Madden and Chelsea midfielder Conor Clifford.

Madden met up with the squad last night while Clifford was due to arrive this evening after playing his part in the U-19s’ victories over San Marino and Albania as the Republic made it through to the elite phase of the European Championship qualifiers.

It is the first time Madden, who has been capped at U-18 and U-19 level, has been involved with the U-21s, while Clifford has one cap.

However, the loss of Garvan, Coleman and Scannell will come as a blow to Givens.

All three started Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Georgia, in which Ireland were once again denied victory by a late equaliser.

They have now drawn each of their last four qualifiers and sit in fifth place in Group 2, nine points adrift of leaders Switzerland, who beat second-placed Turkey 3-1 in Trabzon at the weekend.

However, Armenia, who claimed their first point at the fifth attempt at the weekend when they drew at home to Estonia, are the only side in the group worse off than Ireland, and the visitors will hope they can finally claim the win they believe their performances in recent games have merited.