Alan Maybury has been forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad.
Alan Maybury's hopes of playing a part in Republic of Ireland's upcoming World Cup qualifiers have been dashed by a pelvic complaint.The Leicester defender had been confident of shaking off the problem in time to tackle Israel at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and the trip to Faroe Islands next week, but the complaint has failed to respond to treatment and has forced him to withdraw from the squad.
"When I played against Wolves towards the end of the season I went up for a header and landed awkwardly on my back," he told Leicester's official website. "I felt a pain in my groin at the time but I managed to see out the game.
"We found out after the match that my pelvis had slipped out. The physio put it back into place, but I found I was having to have treatment on it before training every day just to get me through the session. Then I would have to have an hour of rehab afterwards to put the pelvis back in if need be.
"It sounds worse than it was and it wasn't a major problem. Once the season finished I thought it would settle down, but that wasn't the case. Because it had been in and out that many times it just wasn't staying in.
"I was supposed to meet up with Ireland for the World Cup qualifiers after I had an injection in the area, but I did some work here at the training ground last week and my groin became sore again. At that point I thought that I was kidding myself and I was forced to pull out of the squad."
Maybury, who has been nursing the injury since April, is now targeting a return to pre-season training with The Foxes next month.
"The idea is for me now to be fit for the start of pre-season," he added. "The last thing anyone wanted was for me to go away with Ireland and make it worse.
"Pre-season is going to be a fresh start for all of us. It will give the manager the chance to get across to us all exactly what he wants here. I really need to be fit for that period and that is why I am working to get back at the moment."
Foxes boss Craig Levein is believed to be ready to raid Celtic yet again, with defender Ulrik Laursen the object of his desire.
Leicester have already signed Mohammed Sylla and he is believed to be readying a move for Danish stopper Laursen as he attempts to build a side capable of challenging for promotion next term.
