Mick McCarthy has been dealt a major blow ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Shane Long has been ruled out of the Denmark fixture at Telia Parken in Copenhagen this Friday and the Gibraltar clash at the Aviva Stadium on Monday June 10th.
The Tipperary striker has suffered a hamstring injury in training, the FAI has confirmed on Twitter.
Long has scored 17 international goals in his 82 appearances.
He’s yet to play in this Mick McCarthy era though as he was forced to pull out of the national team squad in March due to an injury.
Long enjoyed a rich spell of form with Southampton in the final stages of the Premier League.
Four of his five league goals this season were scored in the last seven weeks of Southampton’s successful fight against relegation.
SQUAD UPDATE | Shane Long ruled out of #EURO2020 qualifiers against 🇩🇰 & 🇬🇮
Striker suffered hamstring injury in training #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/LI3bli8629— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) June 3, 2019
The Saint’s April fixture with Watford saw the 32-year-old set a new Premier League record for fastest ever goal.
It took him just 7.69 seconds to chip past goalkeeper Ben Foster after pressing hard immediately from the kick-off.
Long played a pivotal role in the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for the 2016 European Championships in France.
His wonder strike twenty minutes from time against Germany at the Aviva Stadium will live long in the memory of fans.
Long smashed past Manuel Neuer to see the Boys in Green beat the then World Champions 1-0.
The news brings the total injury list to four after Mark Travers, Alan Browne and Luca Connell were all ruled out.
McCathy already has limited options up front with his side only scoring twice in the qualifying campaign so far.
Jeff Hendrick scored the only goal of the game in the 49th minute against Gibraltar while a cracking Conor Hourihane first-half free-kick was also the only goal in the Georgia fixture in March.
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