Fulham midfielder Damien Duff will miss the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Russia and Slovakia after the recurrence of a calf problem.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni confirmed that the Cottagers star will not be involved in Friday night’s clash with Russia in Dublin or the trip to Slovakia on Tuesday.
“Damien Duff has had a scan and there is a little injury. It is 90 per cent he is not available. A muscle injury is very dangerous. It is not easy to recover in eight days.
“He has pulled the muscle and there is a little blood showing on the scan, so we spoke to the doctor and he is going home.”
The same injury kept Duff out of last month’s victories over Armenia and Andorra.
Duff also picked up a head wound in Saturday’s draw between Fulham and West Ham and while the Dubliner subsequently appeared to be limping as he left the pitch 20 minutes before the end, it had been believed that the cut above his eye was his only significant injury.
