Southampton striker Shane Long has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's upcoming European Qualifiers against Denmark and Gibraltar due to a hamstring injury picked up during training.

It will be a disappointment for manager Mick McCarthy who would have seen Long end the season strongly by scoring four goals in the last seven matches of the Premier League season. However, McCarthy has challenged the other strikers in the squad to step up.

He said: "Well, it's a disappointment. I hope it turns out not to be any sort of a blow, of course, because I'm hoping we've got other strikers that can do the business for us.

"But certainly, it's a huge blow for him as well having come in and recovered from injury from the last time, and then picking up an injury this time, so I'm really disappointed for him.

"It's just the way it is, so he's got to get back and get fit and hopefully be right for the next ones."