Long ruled out for Slovakia

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The FAI announced this morning that Shane Long has been ruled out of tonight’s game against Slovakia at the Aviva Stadium. Long’s place in the starting eleven will now go to Wolves’ Kevin Doyle who will partner Captain Robbie Keane up front.

The loss of Long will be a blow to Giovanni Trapattoni as the West Brom man has scored two goals in his opening three games of the Premier League season.

An FAI statement read “Shane Long has picked up a light calf strain and as a precautionary measure will not start this evening’s EURO 2012 qualifier against Slovakia. Shane will remain with the squad in advance of the EURO 2012 qualifier against Russia next week”.