Injury woes for Martin O'Neill's Ireland before Georgia game

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill is taking nothing for granted ahead of the World Cup qualifier double-header against Georgia and Moldova amid a deepening injury crisis.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill holds a press Conference after a training session at FAI National Training Centre, Dublin. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday October 3, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Republic. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. No commercial use. Call [phone] for further information.

Ireland launched their Group D campaign with a 2-2 draw in Serbia last month, but striker Daryl Murphy, whose late strike secured a point in Belgrade, heads a lengthy list of players who will either definitely miss or remain doubts for tomorrow night’s visit of the Georgians to Dublin and the trip to Chisinau which follows three days later.

O’Neill said: “A reasonably decent friend of mine who knows nothing about football spoke to me a few days ago and he mentioned ‘If you can put six points on the board...’ I nearly throttled him. It’s not like that. These games are 
difficult for us.”

Newcastle’s Murphy is out with a calf problem while goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has a thigh injury, as has Anthony Pilkington, who is expected to miss out along with fellow midfielder Stephen Quinn, who faces several weeks on the sidelines with knee damage.

In addition, winger Aiden McGeady is struggling with a hamstring strain and striker Kevin Doyle is nursing a sore ankle.

Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter has had a scan on a groin problem and O’Neill, right, is awaiting an assessment, but as a result of the catalogue of both confirmed and impending withdrawals, he has added 21-year-old Manchester City keeper Ian Lawlor and Aberdeen forward Adam Rooney, 28, to his squad. O’Neill added: “It would help to have fit players. It’s not great, the quick turnaround but you have to curse your luck and get on with it.”

One man who could be available after missing the game in Serbia as he underwent groin surgery is Everton midfielder James McCarthy, although the Republic boss will not take any risks, with club manager Ronald Koeman having already voiced his fears over rushing the player back.

O’Neill said: “He’s been recovering from the operation and has done a lot of work. He’s pretty optimistic, but we’ll see how that goes over the next two days.

“We don’t have much time between now and Thursday. If he gets a couple of training sessions in, that would be beneficial for him and useful 
for us.”