Richard Keogh turns down hand surgery to play in game, live on Sky Sports, March 23
Wednesday 20 March 2019 11:52, UK
Shane Long has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad due to a groin injury ahead of their European Qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia.
Millwall striker Aiden O'Brien has been called up to replace Southampton's Long for the Group D games, which will both be shown live on Sky Sports.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Long had pulled out with a groin injury.
One player who has made himself available is Richard Keogh, who has turned down surgery on his broken hand to play in Ireland's Euro 2020 opening qualifier.
The Derby defender suffered the injury during last week's 0-0 draw with Stoke, but is preparing to play in Saturday's game - if selected - wearing a lightweight cast.
Keogh said: "I went for the X-ray and at first they were talking about surgery. This was before I spoke to the hand surgeon and I didn't particularly want to do that.
"When I spoke to him, I just said, 'Listen, if there's a chance of me playing, I just want to carry on playing if that's at all possible. I don't want to have surgery'. I'd rather just take the risk, I suppose, and just crack on.
"He saw the X-ray and said, 'I think we can do that'. If it hadn't been the middle of my finger where it's protected by the other two, I think I might have had to have surgery and been out for bit."
