Soccer:West Brom striker Shane Long looks certain to miss both legs of the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia after being ruled out for up to six weeks with a knee injury following a tackle from Aston Villa's Alan Hutton last Saturday.
A scan confirmed the extent of the knee injury he suffered after he was forced to leave the field in the 19th minute after a challenge from Hutton eight minutes earlier.
The force of the tackle resulted in Long suffering severe bone bruising and a small bone chip, inside his right knee.
Long adds to Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s problems, with Kevin Doyle ruled out of the first leg in Tallinn on Friday November 11th through suspension, while captain Robbie Keane faces a race against time to be fit for the games after missing the game against Armenia through injury.
Speaking after Saturday’s game, which his side won 2-1, West Brom boss Roy Hodgson felt there was “no room in football” for the type of challenge from Hutton.
Hodgson said: “I don’t think it will be good news when the scan comes through because it was such a vicious challenge.
“I suppose he has got to consider himself lucky he hasn’t got two broken bones in his leg but I would think it is a serious knee injury.
“I was disappointed with that challenge by Hutton and not only saddened by it, but angered by it.
“I don’t think there is any room in football for those type of challenges on the field and overall the game wasn’t like that.”
