Roy Hodgson is hoping Damien Duff will be ready for the Europa League final next Wednesday after the Republic of Ireland midfielder limped out of last night’s 1-0 defeat to Stoke City at Craven Cottage.
The winger left the action with muscle cramp at halftime but the prognosis is positive and it is not thought the injury will keep Duff out of Ireland’s friendly matches against Paraguay and Algeria later this month.
Ireland face Paraguay at the RDS on May 25th and then host Algeria three days later.
"We think one of Damien Duff's muscles was cramping up,” said Hodgson after the game last night.
“That was a blow of course. We hope it's not too serious. I hope he'll be fit for the Final. The medical staff don't think it's a muscle tear or anything like that.”
Hodgson also has concerns over top scorer Bobby Zamora, but is less optimistic about the striker’s chance of facing Atletico Madrid.
"Bobby Zamora stands a chance of making it but he's not making vast amounts of progress on a daily basis so it could be touch and go."