Soccer:Giovanni Trapattoni may have to plan without Shane Long for the Euro 2012 play-offs against Estonia next month after the striker sustained a "serious" knee injury in West Brom's 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Long limped from the pitch after just 16 minutes following what Baggies manager Roy Hodgson described as an “appalling tackle” from Villa full-back Alan Hutton.
The West Brom manager does not believe Long suffered cruciate ligament damage with a scan to determine the extent of the problem. But Hodgson launched a scathing attack on Hutton after the game, claiming the lunge could have left his player “with two broken legs.”
“I’m very pleased with the result and the performance but very disappointed about Shane Long’s injury. It was a wicked challenge,” Hodgson said. “I’m angered still by the challenge so, before any of you start talking to me about red cards, be very careful.
“If ever I’ve seen a challenge that merited a red card, it was Hutton on Long. It is a scan job but Long is lucky because he could have had two broken legs. We are a small squad and to lose players for long periods of time is going to affect us.
“Maybe the scan will show it wasn’t as bad as all that. We don’t think it is a cruciate knee ligament injury, which is good. But there are a lot of other ligaments in knees which can keep you out for a long time. It is a relatively serious injury.”
Villa manager Alex McLeish said: “I have seen it on the video. Shane Long was maybe favourite to get it but I thought Hutton has gone for the ball. He’s collided on the follow-through and that’s what’s injured Shane Long. Was it a savage tackle? I don’t think it was.
“In the penalty box, we see them 100 times and unfortunately Shane got injured. Not everyone gets injured with those challenges. I understand what the argument will be, it will be that he’s got the ball and followed through and collided with the player, but how can you stop in mid-air?”
The injury could well mean Long will miss the crucial two-legged play-off against Estonia scheduled for November 11th and 15th.
With Robbie Keane yet to be passed fit for the games, and Kevin Doyle suspended for the first leg in Talinn, it could leave Trapattoni short of options when he needs them most, although the Italian did leave Long on the bench in the final Group B game against Armenia earlier this month.
His West Brom team-mate Simon Cox started the 2-1 win, while Stoke’s Jonathan Walters was preferred off the bench by Trapattoni. The Italian is due to name his squad for both matches next Friday.
