Seani Maguire is a major doubt for Ireland’s upcoming internationals against Switzerland and Bulgaria following a freak injury while training with his club.
He picked up an eye injury after being hit in the face with a football, and as a result missed Preston’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Preston manager Alex Neil said he may need to be rested for up to two weeks in order to prevent further damage to his eye.
He said “It happened on Thursday and the ball has ricocheted and hit him in the eye and it’s caused a bleed in his eye and the pressure is double of that of his other eye. It can be significant so we have to be careful”.
A two-week layoff would mean Maguire pulling out of the Irish camp for Thursday’s crunch qualifier with the Swiss and the friendly with Bulgaria at the Aviva the following Tuesday.
James McCarthy and Keiren Westwood have also all been ruled out.
The FAI announced yesterday that Luton Town striker James Collins, Fulham defender Cyrus Christie and Burton Albion goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara have been called into squad.