Ireland and Leicester left-back Greg Cunningham, on loan from Manchester City, suffered a broken leg after in his side's 1-0 victory over Hull City this Saturday.
Galway born Cunningham suffered the break as a result of Liam Rosenior's late tackle on 62 minutes, which earnt him a red card.
Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson commented: 'It's a broken tibia, which could mean he is probably away for four months. He is in hospital right now and I guess he will undergo an operation today or tomorrow.
'It is important to say that as far as Rosenior was concerned, it was not stupid. It was bad luck and he didn't mean to do it, so there should be no shadow over him.'
Hull manager Nigel Pearson insisted there was no malice in Rosenior's tackle on Cunningham: 'It is obviously regrettable and you never like to see players have a serious injury. We wish the player a speedy recovery.
'Liam's distraught; it was just slightly mistimed with two players going for the ball. It would be wrong of me to complain about something like the red card and I have no complaints about it.
'It was very unfortunate as it didn't look ridiculously high.
'There was no malice in the challenge. If you know the player you'd be very aware of that.'
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is likely to give some of his younger players an international start due to the number of senior players who have reported injured ahead of Wednesday's friendly game with Norway in Dublin.
The Irish boss has lost six of the players he initially named for the game and has further doubts over Sean St Ledger, Paul Green and striker Kevin Doyle, who were due to be assessed today.
Captain Robbie Keane is out with an ankle injury, Kevin Kilbane has withdrawn with a back problem and Richard Dunne, Paul McShane and Caleb Folan have varying knee injuries.
In addition, Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson has not reported for the squad due to a family illness.
Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark was named in a revised squad on Friday afternoon, but damaged a calf in the warm-up before Saturday's Premier League draw with Man United and has withdrawn.
As a result, Trapattoni has signalled his intention to have a look at young Everton defender Seamus Coleman, Greg Cunningham, who is currently on loan at Leicester from Manchester City, and Stoke striker Jon Walters. Celtic's Darron O'Dea and Stoke's Marc Wilson are also likely to feature during the game.
Trapattoni, who is awaiting Aiden McGeady's arrival from club duty with Spartak Moscow later today, said: "We are missing many injured players, but it is important in this friendly game to look at other young players.
"The likes of Coleman, Cunningham and Walters, it is very important for them and for us.
"The players, we know, but with us, they can increase in confidence and personality.
"It will be important in the future that these players are available to us."
St Ledger and Green will have scans on knee injuries today, while Doyle will have further examinations on the broken bone in his hand.
Wednesday's game is the first since last month's Euro 2012 double-header, which saw Ireland lose at home to Russia and draw in Slovakia.
However, Trapattoni insists there will be plenty at stake.
He said: "I have said many times in the past, there is no such thing as a friendly game for the national team.
"When players play for their country, when they have that shirt on, they have pride, they must be proud because they are playing for their country."
19 year old Ireland international Greg Cunningham said that Saturday's Championship defeat at Swansea was a tough start to his loan spell at Leicester City.
The Galway born defender was thrown into the action at the Liberty Stadium just 48 hours after completing the loan switch until January from Manchester City.
Cunningham replaced the more experienced Bruno Berner at left-back and had a gripping personal duel with flying Swans winger Nathan Dyer as well as picking up a cut knee.
Cunningham said: "It was a tough game against a team who knocked it around well."
His battle with Dyer was one of the eye-catching duels of the day and it was about honours even at the end.
The youngster said: "He is a very good player and it was a test for me but I tried to stick to the task."
Cunningham was also in the wars and had to leave the field for treatment during the second half of the contest before returning to complete the 90 minutes.
"I got accidentally caught on the knee by Chris Weale's studs. They wanted to stitch it but I said that would take too long as I wanted to get back out there and stitch it later."
Cunningham's City's debut completed a whirlwind few days for the youngster.
He said: "I played for our reserves on Tuesday night at Wigan and then I was told Leicester wanted me on loan so I went there on Wednesday and met the lads for training on Thursday. They are a great bunch who really made me welcome. I want to play as much as I can while I'm here because I can already see it is a fantastic club with great fans."
City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge of Manchester City during Cunningham's first year at Eastlands, although their paths rarely crossed.
Cunningham said: "He was with the first-team squad at Carrington while I was with the Academy at Platt Lane so I didn't see him much.
"However, he had a good season and he has proved to be a good manager wherever he has gone."
His long-term aim will be to impress current Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini as he looks to add to his Carling Cup appearance at West Brom earlier in the season, an appearance that rules him out of Leicester's clash with the Baggies tomorrow night.
He said: "I'll just work hard each day and try to get as many games as I can between now and January and see what happens."
Nineteen year old Ireland international Greg Cunningham looks set to get some regular game-time at club level after joining Sven Goran Eriksson's Leicester City on loan until January.
The young Manchester City star is Eriksson's fourth recruit since taking over as City boss goes straight into the squad for Saturdays Championship clash at Swansea.
Galway native Cunningham played in the Carling Cup for Roberto Mancini's side this season after three appearances as a substitute during the previous campaign and he signed a new four-year deal at the club in August.
The highly talented left back made his Ireland debut against Algeria in May and also came on as a substitute in the glamour friendly against Argentina in August.
Speakng about his latest signing Eriksson said: "He is a young player with a good left foot who likes to get forward. He played for Manchester City reserves earlier this week and he has been training all season, so his fitness should be good."
Ireland and Manchester City defender Greg Cunningham has signed a new four-year contract with the club.
The 19-year-old left-back has been staking his claim in the senior squad at Eastlands since January and has impressed manager Roberto Mancini enough to earn a new deal.
Galway native Cunningham admits he is delighted to have put pen to paper, and has ambitions of breaking into the first team in the not-too-distant future.
"I'm delighted to have signed a new deal with City," he told the club's official website.
"Now I need to impress the manager as much as I can and get as much game time as I can, too.
"I've been working hard and it's been an unbelievable year for me so far. To get this new deal sorted and win my first full cap for my country has exceeded all my expectations."
Ireland international Cunningham has earned a couple of call-ups in his short career to date and loves representing his country.
He added: "To play at any level for Ireland is an honour but to play a full game against Algeria and then another 30 minutes against Argentina recently is a dream come true."
Galway Teenager Greg Cunningham will win his first senior cap for Ireland in tonight's friendly clash with Algeria at the RDS in Dublin.
The 19-year-old Manchester City full-back, who made just three appearances as a substitute for his club last season, will line up on the left as John O'Shea moves into the middle to partner Sean St Ledger with Paul McShane having been released from the squad.
There will also be a first start for 27-year-old Derby midfielder Paul Green, who made his debut as a substitute against Paraguay on Tuesday evening.
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has an injury doubt over Liam Lawrence, who is struggling to shake off a groin problem, and Birmingham's Keith Fahey is standing by.
Ireland starting eleven to face Algeria K Westwood; S Kelly, J O'Shea, S St Ledger, G Cunninham; L Lawrence, P Green, G Whelan, D Duff; R Keane, K Doyle.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has announced a 23-man squad to face Brazil in the Emirates Stadium on 2 March.
Trapattoni has called-up uncapped Marc Wilson (Portsmouth), Greg Cunningham (Manchester City) and James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic) for the clash with Brazil. However, there is no place for ex-Bohemians goalkeeper Brian Murphy.
The squad will face a full strength Brazil side as Dunga and his players prepare for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Trapattoni said: 'I look forward to working with my squad again after the disappointment of Paris.
'The priority now is to build on the progress made during the last campaign and prepare ourselves over the coming months mentally and tactically for an important Euro campaign.'
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Manchester City), Keiren Westwood (Coventry City), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United).
Defenders: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Kevin Kilbane (Hull City), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Sean St Ledger (Preston North End), Paul McShane (Hull City), Marc Wilson (Portsmouth), Greg Cunningham (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Fulham), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Hunt (Hull City), Liam Lawrence (Stoke City), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic).
Forwards:Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Robbie Keane (Celtic), Shane Long (Reading), Leon Best (Newcastle United).
Ireland Under-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has announced his squad for the upcoming Four Nations tournament, which will be held in Dublin and Bray on September 5th, 6th and 8th.
Ireland will compete against Turkey, Holland and Portugal in the Four Nations Tournament.
Ireland Under-19 squad
Ger Hanley Galway United
Ciaran Gallagher Finn Harps
Richie Towell Celtic
Rob Kiernan Watford
Gavin Gunning Tranmere Rovers (on loan from Blackburn Rovers)
Mark O’Brien Derby County
Greg Cunningham Manchester City
Shane McEleney Derry City
Stephen McDonnell Celtic
Conor Henderson Arsenal
Conor Clifford Chelsea
Conor Hourihane Sunderland
Gearoid Morrissey Blackburn Rovers
Aaron Doran Blackburn Rovers
Robbie Brady Manchester United
Patrick McEleney Sunderland
Ronan Murray Ipswich Town
Joe Mason Plymouth Argyle
Jamil Adam Barnsley
