Millwall's Aiden O'Brien called up to Ireland squad as Shane Long cries off with groin complaint

Ireland striker Shane Long has withdrawn from Mick McCarthy’s 23- man squad for this week’s qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia with a groin injury.

Millwall striker Aiden O’Brien will to join up with the squad on Wednesday following his goalscoring performance in the Lions’ FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Since trimming the squad down last week from a provisional 38-man squad, Mick McCarthy has had to deal with a number of withdrawals.

Long joins Preston midfielder Alan Browne, Bristol City’s Callum O’Dowda and Portsmouth striker Ronan Curtis in missing the trip to Gibraltar as the squad is set to travel on Thursday.

O’Brien, who received the Three Goal of the Year award for his header against Poland on his international debut, received further good news when he was called in as Long’s replacement.

O’Brien made his debut for Ireland back in September of last year in a friendly against Poland and scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Wroclaw.

The 25-year-old has made four appearances for the senior side, with that goal in Poland his first and only goal so far.

O’Brien has scored two league goals and assisted once in 30 Championship appearances for Millwall this season.