Duff disappointment for Republic

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been dealt a series of fresh injury blows ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Russia and Slovakia.

Midfielders Damien Duff and Keith Andrews are heading home with calf and groin injuries respectively, with the Italian admitting Duff is "90 per cent" certain to miss both games.

The squad met up in Malahide on Monday ahead of Friday night's clash with the Russians at the Aviva Stadium, and Trapattoni said: "The news is not very good. Damien Duff has had a scan and there is a little injury. It is 90 per cent he is not available."

He added: "A muscle injury is very dangerous. It is not easy to recover in eight days. He has pulled the muscle and there is a little blood showing on the scan, so we spoke to the doctor and he is going home."

Trapattoni, who is also without Preston's Keith Treacy due to a persistent calf problem, has not called up any midfield reinforcements, but he has drafted in Stoke defender Marc Wilson, with Stephen Kelly and Darren O'Dea having withdrawn from the squad last week.

Asked if he would call up any replacements, Trapattoni replied: "No, we have enough wingers here. With Stephen Kelly missing, we are a defender short, so we have called up Marc Wilson."

Treacy, who was on standby, did not travel, with Preston insisting he needs rest to get over a long-standing problem. Trapattoni would have included the player had it not been for Preston's insistence that he needed to stay in Lancashire.

In Italy, Treacy would have been expected to report and be assessed by medical staff, but Trapattoni has accepted Preston manager Darren Ferguson's decision to keep him close to home.

Trapattoni said: "They said he is injured. He can play, but he needs rest. They wanted to rest him so he could recover.

"Always after one hour, he is in pain in his groin and they think it is better he stays at home. After the last game, he played 60 minutes, he felt it and we hope with this rest, he gets better."