Caoimhin Kelleher requires 12 stitches after nasty training ground clash

Caoimhin Kelleher is out of the Republic of Ireland's upcoming European Championships qualifiers after suffering a nasty training ground collision that required 12 stitches in his leg.

Kelleher was set to start for Liverpool in their Europa League game against Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield tonight, and would have been in Stephen Kenny's squad for the qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar, which was named today.

However an untimely and unfortunate incident in Liverpool training on Tuesday has ruled the Corkman out of Liverpool's match, and deprived him of an opportunity to put pressure on Gavin Bazunu for the Ireland No 1 spot.

Speaking about Kelleher's absence, Kenny said: "We got the call. He got 12 stitches in a leg joint.

"Sometimes with stitches, if it's a calf, a thigh or a facial [injury] you can get over it, but you can't if it's on the joint. It just reopens all the time. It's just unfortunate for Caoimhin really."

On the day that James McClean announced he will retire from international duty at the end of this year, the Derryman failed to make Kenny's squad.

The manager suggested the excellent recent form of Celtic's Liam Scales was a factor in McClean's exclusion, but said the veteran will come in if there are any injuries before the Greeks come to town on Friday week.

"Obviously Liam Scales is actually in very good form at Celtic playing in the Champions League, and he's played a lot on the left side as well, and also, Ryan Manning has had some good form for Southampton recently," said Kenny, who managed McClean when he was a rising talent at Derry City.

"James has had a great career, he's had a terrific career and it's not beyond possibility I'll be calling him at the weekend after there's an injury and asking