Soccer:Republic of Ireland and Everton midfielder Darron Gibson is unlikely to be available for at least another two weeks as he recovers from a thigh strain.
The 24-year-old has figured in all three league matches so far this season but was forced off 20 minutes into the first half of the most recent contest, a 2-0 defeat at West Brom on September 1st.
Toffees boss David Moyes, however, remains hopeful the former Manchester United midfielder could make a quicker-than-expected return.
The Scot explained: "Darron's got a thigh strain and will probably be out for four to five weeks now. He's had two weeks now so hopefully we are a couple of weeks down the line already because of the international break - so he may have only a couple of weeks to miss."
Gibson recently told Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni he did not want to be considered for international duty, having been an unused substitute in all three defeats at Euro 2012 in June.
After opening the World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan this month, Ireland host Germany on October 12th before a trip to the Faroe Islands four days later.
Gibson will hope to be fit by then but his exile looks unlikely to end. Even if he has a change of heart, Trapattoni may take some convincing, having seen James McCarthy and David Meyler step forward as candidates for central midfield roles this month.
