Soccer:Ciaran Clark has been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands. The defender is due in Dublin today, having been instructed to join up with a squad that has been significantly weakened through injury over the weekend.

An injury to Leicester City's Sean St Ledger on Saturday, coupled with the long-term absence of Clark’s Aston Villa clubmate Richard Dunne, has left Giovanni Trapattoni without his first choice central defenders, while the hamstring strain sustained by Glenn Whelan in yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool has further depleted the Italian’s options in midfield.

According to Trapattoni earlier today, both returned to their clubs and were “99 per cent” certain to miss the games against Germany on Friday and the Faroe Islands four days later. That has since been confirmed as the case following scans on both players this afternoon.

Further bad news came via an FAI statement, this afternoon, that ruled James McClean out of the Germany game with a groin strain.

"The results of James Mc Clean’s scan this morning in Sunderland showed a grade one hip flexor strain which will certainly rule him out for the Germany match and may exclude him for the Faroe Islands," it read. "McClean will remain at his club to receive treatment."

It's a run of bad luck the manager could certainly have done without, but he was keen to avoid suggestions the Gods had somehow conspired against him and his team ahead of a meeting with the one of the world’s superpowers.

“Germany are a strong team. We know about their qualities and offensive potential,” he said. “They are one of the strongest in the Europe and the world. We will try to play well against them, we don’t need excuses.”

Clark could notionally offer cover in both defence and midfield, as well as provide an option at left-back, but Trapattoni said today John O’Shea would “probably” play in the centre of defence alongside Darren O’Dea, meaning the bench is likely to be the best the former England underage captain can hope for.

O’Shea will leave a vacancy at right-back that Seamus Coleman, Paul McShane and Stephen Kelly will hope to benefit from. The fans would, one suspects, like to see Coleman there, and his recent performances in the position for a high-flying Everton, might aid his cause, though the experience of Kelly could well win out.

The fact the latter has not played a minute for Fulham yet this season, however, only aids the case for Coleman.

Trapattoni was planning for life without Whelan this morning, by operating with James McCarthy, Keith Andrews and either David Meyler - himself a late inclusion to the squad - or Keith Fahey in a three-man midfield during a training game in Malahide.

While the Germany game is likely to offer the chance for some to impress with a rare competitive start, Trapattoni wants full commitment from everyone in the squad, the likes of which was personified by Kevin Doyle when he came off the bench to inspire a rather fortunate 2-1 win over Kazakhstan in Astana last month.

“I spoke to their players about their enthusiasm levels. Like any manager, I am looking for players to commit 100 per cent, as with Doyle last time, when he came off the bench to score a goal."

Jonathan Walters did not train today, but tiredness after Stoke’s draw with Liverpool, was his excuse. Captain Robbie Keane of LA Galaxy and Spartak Moscow winger Aiden McGeady are expected to join up with the squad soon.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has called up Hamburg defender Heiko Westermann to replace the injured Mats Hummels (hip) of Borussia Dortmund.

Loew is already without Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan and Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender, while captain Philipp Lahm is also doubtful with a leg injury.