Giovanni Trapattoni has included Shane Long in his 26-man Ireland squad to face Estonia in the Euro 2012 play-offs next month.
West Brom ruled Long out for 'up to six weeks' after he was injured by Alan Hutton's two-footed lunge during the first half of their 2-1 Premier League win at Villa Park.
However, Long believes he has a chance of proving his fitness and so has been included in the squad. Robbie Keane is expected to be fit.
Ireland travel to Talinn for the first leg on 11 November and play the return at Lansdowne Road on 15 November.
Making the announcement, the Irish boss Trap said: "There is no room for complacency as we prepare for our two games next month. We will remember that Estonia have as much right to be in the play-off as ourselves.
"They have had some very good results in their group beating Serbia and Slovenia. They also caused Italy a lot of problems. These games will be a huge challenge for us, and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish."
Ireland squad for the EURO 2012 play-off against Estonia on 11 and 15 November:
Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, David Forde, Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Darren O'Dea, Paul McShane, Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Keith Andrews, Keith Fahey, Darron Gibson, Andy Keogh, Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady, Stephen Hunt, Liam Lawrence, Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Simon Cox. Jon Walters.
