Aaron Connolly is a major doubt for Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Luxembourg.
The Brighton striker has a cracked rib and his club said he won’t return to action until April.
Seagulls boss Graham Potter said today: “Aaron Connolly has got a cracked rib, but he is making good progress.
"But he will probably not be back until after the international break. It is sore at the moment and there is not much we can do at the moment.
Connolly's absence would be another hammer blow for Stephen Kenny ahead of the opening games of the new campaign.
The manager was last night forced to rule out goalkeeper Darren Randolph because of a thigh injury.
And back-up keeper, Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher, is struggling with an abdominal injury and is a doubt.
