Westwood blow for Ireland
Keiren Westwood
Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood has been ruled out of the Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia through injury.
Westwood, who played in the home victory over the Macedonians in March in place of the injured Shay Given, will also miss the Carling Nations Cup clashes with Northern Ireland and Scotland later this month as well as the qualifier in Skopje on June 4.
Darren Randolph and Simon Cox have been drafted into the party named by manager Giovanni Trapattoni on Wednesday. A Football Association of Ireland spokesman said: "The Football Association of Ireland have confirmed that Keiren Westwood has been ruled out of the Ireland squad to face Northern Ireland, Scotland and Macedonia due to injury."
Earlier in the day there was bad news for Ireland when Fulham's Damien Duff was finally forced to concede defeat in his bid to overcome a long-standing Achilles problem.
Cottagers manager Mark Hughes said: "Damien Duff has had an operation on his Achilles.
"The view is that he'll be probably a six-week recovery and then he'll be fit and well for next season."
