Loanee midfielder Jonny Williams has been ruled out of the Wales squad for their Euro 2016 qualifier in Belgium next Sunday, due to the thigh injury he suffered during Saturday’s 1-0 home victory over Watford.

Williams, 21, was subbed just after the hour mark having been on the end of a reckless tackle by Hornets defender Joel Ekstrand.

After the game, manager Mick McCarthy said that he was less than impressed with the challenge: “I thought it was an awful tackle on him, a real take one for the team, cold, cynical tackle, and there weren’t many of them.

“He’s sat with his thigh heavily strapped and a big, sad face on him. I don’t know [how serious his injury might be] yet, so I can’t tell you anything.”.

Meanwhile, Blues goalscorer Tommy Smith is off to join up with the New Zealand squad for friendlies against China in Nanchang on Friday and Thailand in Bangkok on Wednesday 19th November.

Daryl Murphy and Conor Sammon were named in the Republic of Ireland's provisional squad for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland, also on Friday, and friendly with the USA the following Tuesday.

Christophe Berra is in the Scotland squad for the qualifier with Ireland and friendly against England on the Tuesday.

Youngster Adam McDonnell, 17, will be with the Republic of Ireland U19s for this week’s European Championships qualifying tournament held in Waterford and Wexford.

Photo: Action Images

4-4-2 added 20:19 - Nov 9 so how long is he going to be out for?
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iaintaylorx added 20:35 - Nov 9 watford were so dirty last night!
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TractorBeezer added 21:03 - Nov 9 Overall I thoght that it was a well fought and fairly clean game BUT it was quite apparent that Watford were out to nobble Jonny as evidenced by previous tackles and the fact that their defenders cam over to shake Eckstrand's hand following the dirty deed. Here is the reckless tackle (posted yesterday on Forum):
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ArnieM added 21:34 - Nov 9 Flithy dirty cheating Watford. Cynical tactics by a side that should have more about it than to cheat their way to a victory.....a game plan that failed. 1-0 to the Football team
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warwickblue added 00:15 - Nov 10 Thanks for the link TractorBreezer. Having watched it again it was an appalling lunge wasn't it - made worse by the congratulatory handshakes of Ekstrands team-mates as Williams was still being treated and by some of the congratulatory comments on the Watford forums today. Which part of football do Watford currently not understand? I feel sorry for their genuine fans.

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KiwiBlue2 added 01:39 - Nov 10 A blatant and nasty foul. He should have been sent off as he never had a chance of getting the ball. Hopefully Jonny will be rested and ready for Bournemouth. It is very disappointing when incidents like this occur as it is usually the targeted players that the spectators are there to see rather than the oafs that resort to thuggery to get the skilled ones out of the game. What goes round comes round as they say............

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BroskiBeen added 07:39 - Nov 10 Dirty tackle from a dirty team, they couldn't handle him so had to take him out, no attempt to go for the ball so should have been a red
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wkj added 07:55 - Nov 10 I can't remember ever feeling as angry at players as that handshake following that lack of a red following something that barely belongs in MMA let alone footy
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greenkingtone added 10:17 - Nov 10 This referee was another gutless wonder who avoided bringing out his red card. The incident was disgraceful and I hope there were referee assessors present. The officials have been poor this season and the Williams injury resulted in another example of weak refereeing.
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londonben added 11:40 - Nov 10 Always the same with watford...I remember them kicking Kieron Dyer around the park until they finally broke his leg, anyone with pace and skill they deal with the same way. Disgraceful.
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carsey added 12:17 - Nov 10 I was annoyed at the lack of coverage the game got on the football league show. All the other games between top 6 sides got high lights as well as the goals - Town beating Watford got bugger all air time. They ought to have shown the Eckstrand assault on Williams and a few of the other tackles that effectively went unpunished. Some referees are so weak.
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NITFC added 13:20 - Nov 10 One nil to the football team
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brian_a_mul added 14:25 - Nov 10 Good competitive game. Its was a bad tackle and Ekstrand was never going to get to the ball. Unfortunately thats the way this league can be and that tackle deserved more punishment. However we are not shy of a tackle ourselves! Remember Town v Wigan, Berra taking McManman out of the game with a very late shoulder charge at half way on the touch line. It was cynical and the player was taken off injured. It really unsettled Wigan and gave us the momentum to go on and win that game. I wish Joniesta a speedy recovery, hopefully a few weeks off to recover will see him back in action! Agree regards TV coverage, some of the reports made the game out to be a drab game with very little quality. It was an exciting end to end game with some great play and superb defending by both teams.

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coolcat added 18:55 - Nov 10 Was at the game on Saturday and saw the foul on Jonny Williams. That was bad enough but for Eckstrand's team mates to shake his hand afterwards, is just disgraceful. Got them nowhere anyway. Also targeted JW last season at Watford away.
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