Feck it. Ireland could be down two men on November 12th in Vienna.
It's a few days until Martin O'Neill names his squad for Ireland's crucial away qualifier with group rivals Austria, but he may have to do without both John O'Shea AND Stephen Ward for a potential qualification decider.
Ward was withdrawn from Burnley's 3pm visit to Old Trafford and replaced by Liverpool loanee Jon Flanagan, while O'Shea hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring injury before the break in Sunderland's hammering at the hands of Arsenal in the early kick-off. It cut short the Waterford man's 350th Premier League start in a career which has seen him win as many Premier League titles as an individual - five - as was the case for the entire Arsenal matchday squad at the Stadium of Light.
Republic of Ireland international defender Stephen Ward has gone off injured for Burnley against Manchester United #rtesoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 29, 2016
Ireland defender John O'Shea withdrawn just before half-time in Sunderland's game with Arsenal. Ireland play Austria in 2 weeks' time pic.twitter.com/ptXV7CFMh5
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 29, 2016
Both knocks present Martin O'Neill with a potential selection crisis at the back - particularly Ward's, considering O'Shea has made way for the younger generation of Ireland central defenders in recent qualifiers. Ward, however, has remained a stalwart since an impeccable display versus Germany in Dublin last year, and is playing some career-best football for both club and country.
We'll have more on both injuries as it emerges.
