Johnston Ruled Out of Ireland’s World Cup Play-off – Injury Blow for Hallgrimsson
The Republic of Ireland’s hopes for World Cup qualification have suffered a setback with the confirmation that winger Mikey Johnston will miss the upcoming play-off against Czech Republic due to a stress fracture in his ankle.
Injury Details and Timeline
West Bromwich Albion, Johnston’s club, confirmed the injury stemmed from last Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship match against Oxford United. He sustained the injury in the middle of the opening period at the Kassam Stadium before being substituted
.
Johnston will see a specialist later this week to receive a full prognosis and discover a timescale for his return
.
Impact on Ireland Squad
This news represents the latest blow to Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson
, who is already facing a growing list of unavailable players for the crucial play-off semi-final.
- Evan Ferguson is
almost certain to be out
with an ankle problem. - Adam Idah continues his recovery from a groin issue and hasn’t played since December.
- Festy Ebosele is suspended for the tie, though eligible for a potential final.
Positive News Amidst Challenges
Despite the setbacks, there are some encouraging developments for Hallgrimsson. Johnny Kenny scored his first goal for Bolton Wanderers, and Chiedozie Ogbene has been gaining minutes with Sheffield United Under-21s as he recovers from a hamstring problem. Sammie Szmodics is likewise could come back into contention
.
How to Follow the Match
The Netherlands versus Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifying match will be broadcast on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player starting at 7:15 PM on Saturday. A live blog will be available on the RTÉ News App and rte.ie/sport, with live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
FAQ
- What is Mikey Johnston’s injury? A stress fracture to his ankle.
- Will Evan Ferguson play in the play-off? It is
almost certain
he will be unavailable due to an ankle problem. - When will Johnston see a specialist? Later this week.
The injury to Johnston adds another layer of complexity to Ireland’s already challenging path to World Cup qualification. Hallgrimsson will need to rely on the form of other attacking options to overcome this latest hurdle.