Adam Idah and Jason Knight are doubts for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku after coming down with a fever. Both players returned negative results from Covid tests.
"Two players missed training last night," said Ireland manager Stephen Kenny. "Adam Idah and Jason Knight both come down with a fever and strong temperature. They passed the antigen and PCR tests and they are fine, it was probably from the travel.
“Adam was first with a high temperature - he was confined to his room - and Jason, who is tough as anything, has a very high temperature and is unwell. We have to see if they are well enough to train today or not.
“They are still confined to their rooms at the moment,” said Kenny on Friday morning from the team hotel in central Baku. “Adam is maybe further down the line than Jason as it just came on Jason yesterday (Thursday) before training. We will have to see.”
Kenny must submit a squad by tonight (Friday) so it is unlikely that either player will be healthy enough to feature in what would be a major blow to Ireland’s chances of winning a second match from 17 attempts under the current manager.
Idah, who has struggled to feature for Norwich City in the Premier League this season, impressed for Ireland during last month’s matches against Portugal, Azerbaijan and Serbia, doing everything expected of a lone striker, except scoring his first international goal.
"I saw the criticism that he didn't score and Adam is acutely aware of that," said Kenny of the 20 year-old who did net 23 goals in 46 underage caps. "But I thought, overall, in the three games, he offered an awful lot, and showed speed in attack. It is great to have pace in your attack. We have not always had that. Shane Long had that.
“Adam is tall and leads the line well, he has a history of scoring goals, so the next jump is the biggest jump, of course. He had a great chance with the header against Azerbaijan, it just went marginally wide.”
With Kenny set to stick to the 3-4-1-2 system, the potential loss of the Cork man presents an opportunity for West Brom's Callum Robinson, Cardiff City's James Collins or even uncapped 28 year-old Will Keane.
Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly are other options while Chiedozie Ogbene has played centre forward for Rotherham this season.
Knight was set to bring some real quality to the Irish midfield, having missed the September window after Derby County manager Wayne Rooney injured the Dubliner's ankle with a tackle in training.
“It’s just an old fashioned travel (bug),” said Kenny. “Listen, these are things you can’t control. I am pleased with the squad we have. Jason is a very mature for his age, tremendous energy, incredible fitness levels tactically good and very focused individual but obviously you can’t play if you are not right.”
Ireland are already without captain Seamus Coleman while Jayson Molumby and Alan Browne are suspended.
