Browned Off: McCarthy frustrated as Preston midfielder pulls out of Euro qualifiers with calf strain

Midfielder Alan Browne has been released from the Republic of Ireland squad to face Denmark and Gibraltar next month after picking up a calf injury in training.

The Preston North End man – who led the way in the goalscoring stakes for his side with 12 league goals this term – will take no part in Ireland’s vital Euro 2020 double-header.

Corkman Browne sustained the injury at the training camp in Quinta Do Lago in Portugal and, after undergoing a scan, has been ruled out of the two games.

The 24-year-old has seen his Ireland career hampered by niggles and missed the opening qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia with an ankle injury.

Manager Mick McCarthy, who has no plans to call up a replacement, didn’t hide his frustration on receipt of the diagnosis.

“Alan has been very unlucky with injuries this season,” the manager told the association’s media team.

“An ankle injury kept him out of the two games in March and now this calf problem has ruled him out of the matches against Gibraltar and Denmark.”

Browne is the second player to withdraw from the squad after Mark Travers picked up an injury and was replaced by Bohemians stopper James Talbot.

The squad travel back to Dublin from the Algarve on Tuesday to prepare for the trip to Copenhagen to play Denmark on Thursday, June 7^th.