Even if Ireland manager Martin O'Neill were of a mind to take heed of the RTÉ panel and start Wes Hoolahan in an away match, he might not have the opportunity next month after the Norwich City midfielder was withdrawn early in the defeat to Fulham on Saturday.

Hoolahan came off 57 minutes into the game at Craven Cottage yesterday, nursing an ankle injury, and manager Neil Adams has admitted it is a worry.

With Scotland next up for Ireland in Glasgow on November 14th, it will also concern O'Neill, especially after the crucial role Hoolahan played off the bench in Gelsenkirchen when contributing to the late equaliser against Germany last Tuesday.

“He’s in a protective boot,” said Adams afterwards, “obviously we’ll have to look at him and scan him, but he said straight away that it wasn’t a great one. Fingers crossed on that, but it doesn’t look too good at the minute.”

Ireland defender Richard Keogh, who was released from the squad that face Gibraltar and Germany with a hamstring injury, suffered concussion in Derby's 3-0 win at Reading.

Keogh lasted only 45 minutes before being replaced by Ryan Shotton and may now miss Tuesday's game against Blackpool.