Giovanni Trapattoni has been hit with a number of injury pull-outs prior to Wednesday night's friendly international against Croatia in Dublin.
Everton winger Seamus Coleman left Goodison Park on crutches on Friday night, and while Ireland can withstand losing players for this week's game, Trapattoni won't want to be losing players for the key games in September against Slovakia and Russia. X-rays showed only ligament damage which could rule him out of those two games, but a second scan tomorrow will confirm the exact nature of the Donegal players injury.
Jonathan Walters, who came on as sub during Stoke City's Europa League play-off tie on Thursday, isn't expected to play but will travel to Dublin to have his calf injury examined. Fellow Stoke international Marc Wilson is also out due to a lump on his knee and personally spoke to Trapattoni on Friday, he is also expected to travel to Dublin today to see the Ireland medical team.
Ciaran Clark has been called into the squad after Damien Delaney suffered an ankle injury playing for Ipswich in the Championship opener against Bristol City and Keith Fahey is also out of the squad after being injured in Birmingham's 2-1 defeat to Derby.
Keith Andrews has also withdrawn from the squad due to a groin strain.
Irish boss Trapattoni says he will look at Shane Long and Simon Cox together up front but hopes to give Keane some game time while Kevin Doyle is also back in the squad after a lengthy lay off.
Trapattoni has been keeping a close eye on players and upcoming opposition over the summer months "I've pulled the plug on the holidays already," he said. "I've been watching DVDs, and have been keeping an eye on our players. I watched Villa play in Asia recently, I have watched Russia again two or three times, I have watched Slovakia again. We are preparing now for the Croatia game, but of course you get excited about the bigger games to come."
