Aaron Connolly set to sit out Slovakia play-off after undergoing ankle surgery

Aaron Connolly is set to miss the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off with Slovakia in June after undergoing surgery on an ankle ligament injury.

Mick McCarthy’s side are set to face the Slovaks in Bratislava in early June after the original date last Thursday was postponed due to the spread of Covid-19.

The striker picked up the injury in training ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Premier League fixture with Arsenal, which was postponed after manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.

20-year-old Connolly is now in recovery after going under the knife to address the problem earlier this month.

The former Mervue United underage player made his breakthrough to Graham Potter’s side this season, scoring two goals in nine league appearances to date.

He made his international bow as a 79^th-minute substitute in Ireland’s costly 0-0 draw away to Georgia in qualifying in October.

“Aaron picked it up in a training ground collision, essentially. One of his ligaments. He just had some surgery to correct that,” said Potter.

“He is in a pot (protective boot) at the moment, he is on the mend, making progress. But it is early stages of his rehab.

“It is going to be a few weeks of rehab for him and obviously all our efforts are on trying to make sure he gets the right amount and the correct rehab to make sure he comes back stronger.

“It was in the week before the Arsenal game, ironically. That was a bit of a blow for us.”