Pavlyuchenko blow for Russia

Roman Pavyluchenko will miss Russia’s European Championship qualifiers against Ireland and Macedonia, manager Dick Advocaat has confirmed.

Tottenham striker Pavyluchenko has been ruled out of the Group B games on Friday and next Tuesday, respectively, with an ankle injury.

Advocaat said: “Last night, we made a decision that Pavlyuchenko will not travel with the squad to Dublin and Skopje.”

Zenit St Petersburg forward Alexander Bukharov has been tipped to replace Pavyluchenko in the squad.

Russia currently lie third in Group B with three points from two games and trail Ireland and Slovakia in the standings.