Mark Travers withdraws from Ireland camp with hand injury

AFC Bournemouth netminder Mark Travers has been forced to leave the Republic of Ireland training camp in Portugal.

Travers suffered a hand injury during a training session at Quinta do Lago and will return to the Vitality Stadium for treatment in advance of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

Travers received initial medical treatment in Portugal and underwent an x-ray to assess the extent of the damage and Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy told the media, “It is an injury that Alan Kelly (goalkeeping coach) and the Doc (Alan Byrne) has never seen...he's got a displaced fracture of his thumb."

McCarthy is now considering possible replacements to join first choice Darren Randolph and Norway-based Sean McDermott in the Irish squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers. The Ireland supremo was already forced to plan without Kieran O’Hara (Manchester United), who while originally named in the provisional squad for Portugal, had to withdraw due to injury.

Twenty-year-old Mark Travers had just broken into the Bournemouth first team at the end of the 2018/19 season, making a memorable debut against Spurs.

The Irish boss added, "It's really sad for us because he's a great lad to have around the place and a good goalkeeper, but he's got to go back and get it repaired if he wants to be ready for the start of the season."