Green replaces Meyler in Ireland squad

Soccer: Leeds United midfielder Paul Green will link up with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of Tuesday’s training session…

Soccer:Leeds United midfielder Paul Green will link up with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of Tuesday's training session in Malahide after being called in to replace Hull City's David Meyler in the squad for the friendly international against Poland at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday.

The news of Green’s call up came after Ireland assistant boss Marco Tardelli earlier today revealed that Everton’s Darron Gibson declined the chance to take Meyler’s place in the squad, saying that he is not fully fit either.

Meyler had travelled to Dublin for the game, but will return to his club for treatment on a knee injury. The 23-year-old picked up the knock during his Hull’s 1-0 win at Millwall on Saturday, in which he scored the winning goal.

“This morning Meyler told us that he had to go back home and we spoke with Darron,” admitted Tardelli.

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“He told us that he had played just one match (in fact he came on in one after a month on the sidelines and then started a second, coming off with a minute or so to play in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa) and that he preferred to stay at home, that he wasn’t available because he had a little problem after the match.”

Asked if the midfielder is likely to be included in next month’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria, Tardelli observed: “I think Darron wants to come here so maybe yes. Yes, I think so but it depends if he is well or not.

“Why not?” he continued. “When we want to pick a player and he is available then we are very happy. I don’t understand where the problem is.

“This he said that ‘I have a little problem, that I’m not 100 per cent fit’, but I don’t think it’s a problem for him to come for another match.”

Ciaran Clark and Shane Long sat out this morning’s training session but Tardelli said that the striker was simply a little tired after West Brom’s game and Clark was nursing a slight knock that is expected to have cleared up by tomorrow.

Tardelli said, meanwhile, that after speaking with the Irish management team, Keiren Westwood had attempted to leave Sunderland in the transfer window but that Martin O’Neill would not let him go.

“Giovanni can’t do anything about that,” he said, “but for me, it would have been better if he had moved.”

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times