By Cathal Dervan

IRELAND boss Stephen Staunton faces an injury crisis ahead of the trip to Cyprus and the home game with the Czech Republic next month after goalkeeper Shay Given was all but ruled out of the European Championship double header.

Given has been told he faces up to six weeks on the sidelines after surgery in a London hospital on Monday morning to repair a stomach muscle injury picked up in Sunday’s win over West Ham.

And Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott, Ireland’s only scorer in Cyprus last October, is also out of the trip to Nicosia on October 7 after damaging ankle ligaments against Leeds.

Given underwent surgery on Monday after he was taken off with four minutes remaining at Upton Park after a collision with Hammers striker Marlon Harewood.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder told nufc.co.uk, “Shay has had surgery to repair a small tear in his lower stomach. He is comfortable and will have a short stay in hospital.

“We’ll let things settle down now and it’s too early to be putting any date on when he’ll be expected back.”

Roeder added, “I would like to think Harewood was being completely honest in trying to get the ball. It’s a man’s game and I’m sure Shay would understand.”

Elliott picked up an ankle injury just minutes after he scored for Sunderland in the 3-0 win at Leeds United last week.

“Stephen Elliott is out for maybe a couple of months,” said Sunderland boss Roy Keane. “His ankle was sore after the game and it’s quite a nasty twist. It’s a disappointment for us but also for him because he’ll miss international games as well.

“This is a challenge for him to get his head down and get fit. We saw what he’s capable of the other night.”

To compound Staunton’s problems, reserve ‘keeper Paddy Kenny missed Sheffield United’s defeat to Reading on Saturday with the thigh injury that kept him out of the German game a fortnight ago.

Steven Reid is also a concern for the qualifiers as he continues to recover from a groin injury that has seen him miss Blackburn’s last two games.

Harrington Fourth

PADRAIG Harrington warmed up for the Ryder Cup in some style when he finished fourth to England’s Ian Poulter in the Madrid Open on Sunday, the Dubliner hitting only 99 putts all week.

“I am very happy. The last couple of weeks I have putted well,” Harrington claimed on Sunday evening ahead of his fourth Ryder Cup appearance.

“Today I was a bit more erratic off the tee but I probably made more birdies than anyone this week. I have had 23 birdies and two eagles, which is what you want to be doing. I am holing putts and making some birdies so hopefully I can keep that going for next week.

“I have accomplished my mission this week. I came here to look at my game under scrutiny, sharpen up the short game and see what needs to be worked on.”

Darren Clarke marked his comeback after the death of his wife Heather with a final round level par 72 to finish tied for 31st place on seven under par.

Clarke said, “All this week I’ve taken as many putts as I possibly could. It has been a very frustrating week. I played all right and I am very pleased with the way I am hitting it.

“We will have a different quality of greens next week and a different golf course, which will be nice.”

Loughnane Back?

GER Loughnane is back in the frame to become the new manager of the Galway hurlers after a bizarre twist of events saw his opposition candidates all withdraw from the race to succeed Conor Hayes.

Clare legend Loughnane initially withdrew his name as he refused to stand against former Galway players Sean Silke and Joe Cooney, minor boss Mattie Murphy and Portumna coach Sean Treacy.

Galway hurling board officials have since persuaded all other interested parties to stand aside if Loughnane is prepared to change his mind again and run for office.

A statement issued by Silke and his potential selectors Cooney, Steve Mahon and Michael Coleman on Friday outlined their support for Loughnane.

“We believe that Galway needs to win at senior level to encourage further development and enthusiasm for the game throughout the county. It’s clear to us that many now share the view that Ger Loughnane can deliver this for Galway,” they said.

“In view of this and to avoid any division or disharmony that could arise out of the current selection process, we are withdrawing and giving our backing to Ger Loughnane.”

Their intentions weren’t enough to sway Loughnane, who offered no hope of a change of heart when he replied to that statement and said, “I gave the reasons why I was pulling out of the race on Thursday and nothing changed as far as I’m concerned.

“These men clearly wanted the job as they left their names in for a couple of days and they had plenty of time to withdraw if that is what they wanted to do.

“I have no interest in getting involved in a process that saw them withdraw through duress. Galway has been dogged by internal divisions and petty rows for far too long and it’s time they sorted things out if they want to be successful.”

By Saturday the story had changed again when Galway hurling board secretary John Fahey issued a statement that Loughnane was reviewing his position.

“Ger Loughnane indicated that he would take time to review the situation and that he will outline his position next week. In light of this Tuesday’s hurling board meeting at which the new manager was to have been appointed has been postponed,” said Fahey.

Meanwhile, Richie Bennis has been confirmed on a two year contract as manager of the Limerick senior hurling team, with Gary Kirby named as coach and selector.

GAA Shorts

DOWN footballers Ambrose Rodgers (cruciate) and Damien Rafferty (compound fracture) look certain to miss the start of the National League campaign after picking up long term injuries on club duty . . .

KERRYMAN Mickey Ned O’Sullivan is to continue as manager of the Limerick footballers after agreeing a new two year deal with the county board...

THE Offaly footballers must begin the search for a new manager after Kevin Kilmurray stepped down as boss after two years in control.

Celts Lose

GORDON Strachan has renewed his long-standing feud with his old Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, after Fergie claimed his team could have scored 10 against Celtic in last week’s 3-2 Champions League win at Old Trafford.

The Hoops chief said, “We could have had six or seven as well so that would have been a heck of a game. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had the best chance of anybody in the game from the header so that would have been different.

“I’m fine with the game and our performance. It was a memorable and exciting game for everybody. I am right disappointed at the end of the day because I believe with a bit more concentration we could have got one of the great results in the history of the club.

“Had we stuck three passes together we could have caused them problems and we had the right weapons on the park.”

On Saturday Celtic host Rangers in the first Old Firm derby of the season, but Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura will not prioritize between a derby win and success in Europe.

“The movement of the team was very good against Dunfermline but we were tired. However, we were giving 100% for the crowd, like we always do,” he said.

“The Old Firm game is a home game and we have to win. The two competitions, the SPL and the Champions League are equally important to us, but I’m confident about the outcome on Saturday.”

New Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen has announced his retirement from international football with Denmark.

“I already feel at home in Scotland and I therefore feel that I want to focus 100% on my new job. I feel, following my move to Celtic, it is the right time for me to stop playing with the national team,” he said.

Keane’s Sympathy

FORMER Ireland captain and new Sunderland boss Roy Keane has expressed his sympathy with Zinedine Zidane over the red card that marred the Frenchman’s last appearance as a footballer in the World Cup final.

Zidane was sent off for head butting Italy’s Marco Materazzi and Keane said, “I could understand what he did 100%. I could sense his frustration. He’d just missed a header before that, then a pass went astray; you could see he was getting tired, and all you need is a flipping comment at that moment.

“That’s what used to happen to me. You see, at that moment it doesn’t matter who is watching, doesn’t matter that it’s a World Cup final. It could be a park field.”

Keane has also admitted that he was over the hill when he joined Celtic last season after reaching the end of his time with Alex Ferguson and Manchester United.

“When I first went to United, Bryan Robson was somebody I looked up to, still do, but I was young, and when you’re young you smell blood,” added Keane.

“It was like, ‘Robbo, I’m after you, I’m taking you.’ And I just felt over the last couple of years with the younger players at United, I was losing that influence.

“They were the ones smelling blood. In terms of dominating I was definitely losing it. It might have been something the normal fan wouldn’t recognize, the manager wouldn’t even recognize it, but I recognized it.

“I was always my own judge, sometimes harsh, but in the end I wasn’t quite at the races.”

Bohs Looking

BOHEMIANS have failed in their bid to land Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon as their new manager and must renew their efforts to replace the sacked Gareth Farrelly.

Former Bohs winger Fenlon was believed to be on the way back to Dalymount last week but has now committed his future to Shels as they look to regain the league title.

“We’ve a job to do here and I intend winning this season and staying in the job for the foreseeable future. The players have been phenomenal this season in sometimes difficult circumstances and so have the supporters,” Fenlon told the official Shels website.

“I’d like to thank them for that and the best way we can do that is by collectively bringing the silverware to Tolka Park this season.”