Shane Long fights for Ireland fitness
Saturday 29th October 2011, 11:29AM BST.
West Brom ace Shane Long is using an oxygen chamber to make the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off.
The forward is refusing to give up on playing in his country’s two-legged tie against Estonia on November 11 and 15 despite doctors saying his injured knee could take up to six weeks to heal.
The 24-year-old hopes to halve that recovery time by spending time in the medical chamber after he was clattered by Villa’s Alan Hutton on Saturday and suffered a chip and bruising to bones in his right knee.
But Baggies boss Roy Hodgson still believes Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been “optimistic” in including Long in his 26-man squad for the tie.
“The prognosis from the doctors and medical experts is that Shane will be out for six weeks,” said Hodgson, who dismissed talk of club-versus-country dispute.
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It ain’t worth the risk Shane. You have a long career ahead. Don’t jeopardise it for instant glory.
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I hope he makes it as that will mean he is fit earlier than expected for us, but what we do not want is him coming back too early and then being out for even longer.
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Que sera sera.
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