Republic of Ireland international defender Paul McShane is facing a race against time to be fit for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria. McShane damaged his hamstring in Hull City’s 1-0 win against Charlton at the weekend – being forced off after just 57 minutes.

The full extent of the damage should become clear in the next 24 hours but McShane will be touch and go to make the squad for the two World Cup qualifiers.

Hull boss Steve Bruce confirmed: “Paul has nicked his hamstring. At the moment we don’t know how bad the problem is.”

Giovanni Trapattoni has dropped a hint that left-back Marc Wilson will be recalled to the squad for next month’s qualifiers. Wilson has been sidelined since October at Stoke City by a broken leg. But Wilson has revealed that Trapattoni has been in touch to tell him that he has not been forgotten.

Wilson, who is ready to make his Premier League comeback against Fulham on Saturday, is now keen to make sure he is back in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers. He said: “I need to get myself playing for Stoke first and foremost before I can even consider being selected for Ireland again.

“But Giovanni Trapattoni has texted me a few times to ask how I am getting on and he said he hasn’t forgotten me. So that was good to hear. If I can get myself right here then hopefully I can get myself back in the international team.”