Seamus Coleman is Mick McCarthy's latest injury concern ahead of the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off with Slovakia later this month.
The Republic of Ireland captain was substituted after 28 minutes of Everton's 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Goodison Park after falling to the ground with an apparent muscle injury.
Speaking to Off The Ball's Stephen Doyle after the match, Coleman said that he had an issue with his quad but will "hopefully" be fit in time for the do-or-die playoff with Slovakia in 25 days.
Seamus Coleman has told our reporter @dubsoulrebel at Goodison Park, he went off with a quad injury. He won’t know the full extent until tomorrow. Says he’ll “hopefully” be ok in time for the Slovakia match
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 1, 2020
While it was a positive sign that Coleman walked himself off the pitch, his exit from play was the latest in a series of defensive injury concerns for Ireland.
Mick McCarthy is already without the services of Ciaran Clark, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury while Enda Stevens was substituted at half-time for Sheffield United last weekend.
Following the match, Mark Lawrenson spoke to Off The Ball about Ireland's injury concerns and hopes for the play-off.
"When he's got everyone fit we are very, very competitive and we are very, very competitive but we ain't really got any goals in us which is the greatest problem because it is the hardest problem to solve – somebody scoring your goals.
"We would want as many people fit as possible and then if you want to change a little bit you have got that opportunity.
"I just feel with our team it almost kind of picks itself at the moment and hopefully, Séamus will be fit."
If Coleman was to miss the first playoff game, the door would then open to Wolves right-back Matt Doherty who is yet to show his Premier League form in a green jersey.
But Lawrenson is not sure if McCarthy would employ the full-back with the same attacking freedom he has for his club.
"Do you, for one player, alter the system? That is the question and Mick's not like that. I played with him for a long, long time and I think he's a very good manager and man- manager.
"Mick is not for bending and you can suggest all the things you want to him but he has got a way of playing and as a manager, he has done a very good job wherever he has gone.
"He might say 'come on, play right-back' but maybe you can't bomb on all the time kind of pick your moments, we'll wait and see."
