O\'Dea Out of Irish Squad - Ipswich Town News

Loan defender Darren O’Dea has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad due to his knee injury and has returned to Portman Road. The Celtic man picked up the knock in training last Tuesday.

After initial fears that the injury could be serious, it was eventually diagnosed as a sprain and O’Dea made the trip to Armenia for Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier but was not considered fit enough for inclusion on the bench.

The 23-year-old trained back in Dublin yesterday but was subsequently withdrawn from the squad which plays Andorra in another qualifier on Tuesday.

Shane O’Connor, like O’Dea a left-back, withdrew from the Irish U21 squad over the weekend due to a hamstring problem.

Summer signing Mark Kennedy is closing in on a return from his hamstring injury and could be involved in Wednesday's reserve game against Oxford United at Portman Road (KO 2pm)

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