Soccer:Kevin Doyle and Marc Wilson will miss Wednesday night's friendly against Serbia after failing to report for duty at the Republic of Ireland's training base in Malahide this afternoon. Doyle is suffering from a bruised leg while Wilson has a viral condition.

Both will stay with their clubs to prepare for the start of the new season. Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has called in Damien Delaney to boost his options in defence but has opted against bringing in cover for Doyle up front.

Sunderland winger James McLean and Leeds midfielder Paul Green both missed training this afternoon but are due to join up with the squad later today. Trapattoni, who decided against brining the likes of Shay Given, Damien Duff and Robbie Keane to Belgrade, has already lost Darron Gibson and Wes Hoolahan to injury.

Simon Cox, meanwhile, has joined Nottingham Forest from West Brom for a fee believed to be around £2 million (€2.55 million). Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi confirmed the deal on Twitter, welcoming Cox to the club, while the player also used that medium, saying he couldn’t “wait to get started.”

He added: “I would like to thank all the fans and players and staff at WBA for my time there loved it. Met some lovely people. Wish (you) all the best,” Cox said.

The Ireland striker has been linked with Swansea, Celtic and Blackburn in the past, but has signed on a three-year-deal following a medical at the City Ground today.

The 25-year-old joined Albion from Swindon in 2009. Last season he made just 18 appearances, scoring four goals, but found himself largely on the periphery and given the presence of Peter Odemwingie, Shane Long, Marc Antoine-Fortune, Markus Rosenberg and now Romelu Lukaku vying for places up front would have been limited in his opportunities had he stayed