Ireland call up Ciaran Clark as Giovanni Trapattoni battles injury crisis

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni on Monday called up Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark to his injury-ravaged squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands.

Trapattoni brought in Clark as he struggles with an injury crisis that threatens to decimate his squad for the two crucial qualifiers.

The Italian, already without Kevin Doyle and Richard Dunne, is now set to lose Leicester defender Sean St Ledger and Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan, who were both due to have scans on hamstring injuries on Monday.

Sunderland winger James McClean has already been ruled out of Germany's visit to Dublin on Friday with a hip injury suffered during his club's defeat at Manchester City and he is also a doubt for the Faroes clash.

A spokesman for the Football Association of Ireland said: "The results of James McClean's scan this morning in Sunderland showed a grade one hip flexor strain which will certainly rule him out for the Germany match and may exclude him for the Faroe Islands. McClean will remain at his club to receive treatment."