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Hallgrimsson: Sore Ankle Led to Szmodics Withdrawal - Ipswich Town News

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson says Blues forward Sammie Szmodics withdrew from his squad having felt some soreness in his ankle after coming on late in the final Town game of the season against West Ham on Sunday.

The FAI announced that Szmodics had pulled out of the party for the friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg this morning with Hallgrimsson outlining the reason why at a later press conference.

"Sammie played 10, 15 minutes in the last game for Ipswich, but his ankle got sore so we decided to call in Andy Moran [of Stoke City] as a winger-ish-type,” the Icelander said.

Szmodics was making his first appearance for the Blues since undergoing surgery three months ago.

Dara O’Shea and Jack Taylor remain in the squad for the games against the Senegalese at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Friday 6th June and in Luxembourg on Tuesday 10th June.

Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson says he expects Town wideman Chieo Ogbene to be fit and ready for his squad for their first World Cup qualifiers in the new season, the former Luton man having been out of action since rupturing an achilles at Brentford in October.

"Yeah, he will be available,” he added. "According to him, he is going to be the fittest player in pre-season so definitely in September he will be ready for us.” 

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