IRELAND'S preparations for this weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar have been dealt a blow with Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy ruled out.
Coleman has not played for Everton since suffering concussion in their Europa League game against Wolfsburg last month and fellow teammate McCarthy is out with a quad muscle injury.
The pair are also a doubt for next week's qualifier in Germany on October 14, after missing Everton's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is yet to rule the Irish duo out of the trip to Gelsenkirchen to face the World Champions.
Goalkeeper Shay Given has also been ruled out of Saturday's Euro qualifier with a hip injury.
Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has not confirmed whether he will be calling up replacements for the Coleman and McCarthy.
It appears unlikely that he will replace Given in the squad that already contains goalkeepers David Forde, Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliott.
