HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON has been dealt a blow ahead of next week’s Nations League trips to Finland and Greece with both Séamus Coleman and Will Smallbone ruled out.
Skipper Coleman is ruled out with an ankle problem he picked up in Hallgrímsson’s first game in charge against England four weeks ago.
2
2
And Southampton midfielder Smallbone is also ruled out with a hamstring problem that has kept him out of the Saints last three Premier League games.
The absence of two key men are huge losses for Hallgrímsson as he looks for their first result following back-to-back home defeats to England and Greece.
Coleman’s absence was expected given his inactivity over the past month but still a blow, with Brentford’s Nathan Collins expected to assume the captaincy.
Smallbone was earmarked a key man under the new regime having started against both England and Greece in midfield.
But Hallgrímsson is boosted by the return to fitness of Burnley’s Josh Cullen after he missed his opening two games in charge.
The Finland game looks a key tie for Ireland as they look for points to avoid relegation from League B in this campaign.
But a result – against a side ranked two places lower than Ireland by FIFA – could also be crucial from the upcoming World Cup qualification draw.
Presently, Ireland are on course to be a third seed in next year’s qualification campaign but are at risk of dropping among the fourth seeds if results do not improve.
