Republic of Ireland host Wales at home on Sunday before facing Finland away on Wednesday with both games live on Sky Sports Football
Sunday 11 October 2020 21:22, UK
David McGoldrick has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's UEFA Nations League fixtures with Wales and Finland due to an abductor injury.
The Sheffield United forward led the line superbly in Ireland's shootout defeat to Slovakia in their Euro 2020 playoff semi-final.
McGoldrick was withdrawn towards the end of the first period of extra-time in Bratislava, having created a number of scoring opportunities.
He could only watch on as Ireland lost 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw, missing out on a final showdown with Northern Ireland and the chance to play in a third successive European Championships, where Dublin will be one of the host cities.
McGoldrick's absence for the UEFA Nations League double-header is a further blow to Stephen Kenny's goal-shy side, who have scored once in his three games in charge.
Kenny will also make a late decision on Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy, who went down clutching his thigh on Thursday.
"James McCarthy is not too bad, but we'll have to wait and see how he is in relation to the proximity of the game tomorrow, so he's doubtful," said Kenny.
"But he hasn't suffered any tear or anything like that. The scan has been okay, there's good news on his scan."
Kenny called up Sean Maguire and Daryl Horgan on Friday in place of Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah, who were withdrawn just minutes before kick-off against Slovakia after being deemed to have been in close contact with a member of the backroom staff who had tested positive for coronavirus.
A late appeal for both players to be allowed play was rejected and Kenny confirmed Brighton winger Connolly would have started.
"There's no doubt that it was hugely disappointing, hugely disappointing. We're very, very disappointed about that.
"Aaron was selected in the team and Adam would have been a good attacking option for us as well, and to find out on the matchday, and then a bit of a saga because the possibility existed of an appeal and so forth in the situation.
"It wasn't good preparation on the matchday because we were having discussions about it and impact of it rather than the match itself.
"But listen, there's nothing we can do about it. The players were excellent on the night. There were no guarantees if we had the two players."
Ireland sit third in their Nations League group after drawing with Bulgaria and losing to Finland in their opening two fixtures.
