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| Venue of events: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday March 27 Kick off: 19:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Live text commentary and match report on the BBC Sport website |
Aaron Connolly will miss the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg on Saturday after Friday’s confusion over his fitness.
Earlier on Friday, the Irish Football Association tweeted that the Brighton forward was out of Saturday’s game and Tuesday’s friendly with Qatar.
However, coach Stephen Kenny later said that Connolly was simply “very doubtful” for the Dublin contest.
But it has been confirmed that Connolly is now back in Brighton.
The forward, who has six appearances for the Republic, recently returned to club action after a rib injury and lasted 67 minutes in Wednesday’s loss in Serbia.
Kenny was speaking at his pre-game press conference for the Aviva Stadium must-attend contest about two hours after the FAI tweet that was later deleted.
The Brighton striker was at the center of a second-half penalty controversy in Wednesday’s game when a challenge from Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic went unpunished and then appeared to be upset with a calf injury before leaving.
James Collins, who scored the Republic’s second goal in Belgrade in Belgrade, and Shane Long will be candidates to start Saturday after their second-half appearances, while Kenny said Tottenham youngster Troy Parrott, who is currently on loan at Ipswich, “it also comes into the picture.”
Parrott traveled to Serbia with the team, but was not named on Matchday 23.
Connolly’s absence is the latest in a string of injury problems for Republic boss Kenny, who has yet to clinch a victory in his first nine games in charge.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Kevin Long, Conor Hourihane and Callum O’Dowda were unable to travel to Belgrade after being named to the starting squad, while other injured absentees include James McCarthy, John Egan and Adam Idah.
Liverpool goalkeeper Kelleher’s absence came after regular starter Darren Randolph was unable to take his place on the team due to injury.
Kenny chose the inexperienced side in Serbia
Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers won his third international match in Belgrade and received some criticism after being thrown by Aleksandar Mitrovic for Serbia’s second goal after Alan Browne put the Republic ahead in the first half.
Kenny was unwilling to confirm whether the 21-year-old Travers would keep his starting job Saturday.
“I have not chosen the team and it would not be fair to do it in the media, as the players still do not know the team,” added the Republic boss.
Burton Albion’s Kieran O’Hara, who has two caps, and Manchester City player Gavin Bazunu, who has had the most football in the first team of the three Irish custodians this season during his loan at Rochdale, are the other goalkeepers on Kenny’s team. .
Kenny’s team looked bold and inexperienced in Belgrade when they chose West Brom’s Dara O’Shea in a five-man defense with Shane Duffy out in the middle of his club’s struggles at Celtic.
Although Dusan Vlahovic was surprised by the pace of Serbia’s first goal, O’Shea looked serene for the most part and Newcastle’s Ciaran Clark could be the defender under pressure to retain his starting role after looking insecure in the air. in the middle of the week.
Brighton midfielder Jayson Molumby, now on loan at Preston, and Anderlecht’s Josh Cullen won their sixth and fifth caps respectively, as Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady were left out and it seems to make little sense that Kenny will not keep faith in him again. duet on Saturday. .
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