The 42

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is facing a fresh injury crisis after Evan Ferguson was forced off while playing for AS Roma on Wednesday evening.

The 21-year-old was handed his first Serie A start in five weeks by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, but had to be substituted after just seven minutes against Parma.

Ferguson was on the receiving end of a crunching tackle in the opening minute at the Stadio Olimpico, and after trying to run off the injury, was replaced by on-loan Aston Villa star Leon Bailey.

Hallgrimsson, who is due to name his Ireland squad on 6 November ahead of the final World Cup qualification double-header with Portugal and Hungary, now faces an anxious wait for an update on the striker’s fitness.

Written by Niall Kelly and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.