McShane earns Ireland call-up

Paul McShane has been drafted into the Ireland squad ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina amid a growing concern over injuries.

The 26-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, has been called up with Sean St Ledger having joined Richard Dunne and John O’Shea on the casualty list.

An FAI spokesman said: “Paul McShane has been called in as an additional player to the squad to provide extra cover in defence. All other players remain in the squad. Paul will join up with the squad in Portmarnock this evening.”

Should Dunne, O'Shea and St Ledger all miss the game at the weekend, that would leave manager Giovanni Trapattoni without three members of his first-choice back four.

With goalkeeper Shay Given also likely to miss out as he recovers from a knee problem, the defensive line-up Trapattoni fields will bear little resemblance to the one he hopes to send out in the opening game of Euro 2012 against Croatia in Poznan on June 10.

McShane was one of five men placed on stand-by when the 23-man squad was announced earlier this month.