Mick McCarthy has expressed his disappointment at losing Mark Travers for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.
The goalkeeper made his Premier League debut for Bournemouth against Tottenham and acquitted himself well.
The Kildare native made a string of excellent saves and kept a clean sheet against the Champions League finalists.
McCarthy included him in the current Ireland squad. But he suffered a displaced fracture of the thumb in training, thereby ruling him out.
"Very disappointing and equally for him. And maybe more so for him," said Ireland manager McCarthy.
Freak injury
"He's a young player and he's had his opportunity in the first-team at Bournemouth. He was excellent in the game and he impressed us in March when he came here.
"Sadly though Kieren Westwood wasn't fit and I had fewer worries about that when I knew Travers was coming.
"So yeah, really sad for him. But he's injured and nothing I can do about it. It's a freak injury and nobody's seen that injury before. He'll just have to get himself right and come back in next time."
Mick McCarthy also praised Luca Connell's impact in training. The Bolton midfielder subsequently withdrew from the squad with an injury.
"He's a lovely personality about him and he's a really pleasant young fella," he said.
"He stood up in training and stood out. And I think everybody was impressed with him.
"I've just seen him saying goodbye to all the lads and each and everyone of them has given him a hug.
"'Good luck and get fit and see you next time'. I think everybody took to him - as a person and as a player. So it's sad for him to be going because it was a good opportunity for him."
McCarthy also discussed Denmark's Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen who plays in the Champions League final before facing Ireland.
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