Republic of Ireland call up Hull City defender Brian Lenihan
Ireland have called up uncapped Hull City defender Brian Lenihan for European Qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany as injuries take their toll on Martin O’Neill’s squad.
The 20-year-old full-back, who joined Hull from Cork City on the final day of the summer transfer window, will meet up with the Ireland squad on Tuesday evening.
Lenihan will provide cover for the injured Seamus Coleman, who has been nursing a hamstring problem for several weeks.
Coleman’s Everton team-mate James McCarthy and Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given have also been ruled out.
Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has indicated that midfielder McCarthy needs rest and recuperation as he battles a thigh injury, while Given is struggling with a hip problem.
O’Neill has effectively written off the trio’s chances of being involved against either Gibraltar in Dublin on Saturday evening or world champions Germany in Gelsenkirchen three days later.
He said: "I haven't spoken to Roberto Martinez, but I had a word with Seamus - Seamus doesn't feel fantastic at the moment.
"There was talk about James being available, or trying to be available, for last Sunday's game against Manchester United, but I think that was a long shot.
"At the moment, you would say that there is no chance of them being available."
Attention
Asked about Given, O'Neill said: "He's picked up a hip injury that needs some sort of attention, and he thinks now might be the best time to get it done, to get it sorted out. It's been bothering him for a little while.
"We talked it over ourselves and thought maybe this might be the best chance so that he is clear, just in case anything happens to him in the next couple of months at club level.
“For instance, if he did go out on loan or something like that, that he would be absolutely right for it."
The remaining 25 members of the squad trained in Malahide on Tuesday morning with Lenihan due to boost their ranks.
O'Neill, who admitted he had not seen much of the U21 international, said: "We are going to bring up young Brian Lenihan at Hull because we don't have any natural right-back in the team at the moment, so he will come in later on today and train with us tomorrow.
"I was speaking to some of the lads here at Hull, who said he has settled in well, and of course he is delighted to be coming.”