Heartbreak for Green as injury dashes Leeds star’s Wembley dream

The 30-year-old Pontefract-born player will also sit out the rest of Ireland’s four-match summer programme, which also includes a blue-riband clash with Spain in New York next month.

Hull City schemer Stephen Quinn has replaced Green, capped 16 times by the Republic, in the squad, having been called up by his country for the first time since 2007 – with the Dubliner capped nine times at Under-21 level, but still awaiting his first senior appearance. The Republic face England for the first time since the notorious abandoned ‘friendly’ at Lansdowne Road in 1995 tomorrow evening before tackling Georgia in another friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Giovanni Trappatoni’s side then entertain footballing minnows Faroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier on Friday, June 7 in the Irish capital before rounding off their programme with a high-profile encounter with Vicente Del Bosque’s Spain at New York’s Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, June 11.

While Green misses out, Ireland will have former Leeds striker Robbie Keane available for tomorrow’s Wembley clash, having negotiated his release with LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena.

Keane, who played for Galaxy against Seattle Sounders in the early hours of Monday morning, will link up with Ireland today.

Fellow late arrivals also include former Whites loan defender Darren O’Dea, who plays for Toronto, Crystal Palace player Damien Delaney and Aiden McGeady.

On the decision to call up Quinn following Green’s unfortunate injury, Trappatoni said: “He’s a player that we have been watching for a long time.

“He’s a good midfielder, quick and dynamic with a good personality.”

Richard Dunne took part in a practice match at the end of the Republic of Ireland’s training session yesterday morning.

The 33-year-old Aston Villa defender has not played a game all season because of a persistent groin injury but met up with his national squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly.

Trapattoni has ruled Dunne out of contention for Wembley, but he could figure against Georgia on Sunday.

Whites’ tough-tackling midfielder Rodolph Austin is currently preparing with the Jamaican squad ahead of their crucial programme of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, which kick-off with a crucial home clash with Mexico at Kingston’s National Stadium on June 4.

Both teams are in a situation where they need to pick up points urgently, with Mexico sitting in fifth place in the table with three points from their three games while the Reggae Boyz sit at the bottom of the group with two points from three matches.

Three days later, Jamaica entertain USA, also in Kingston, before travelling to Honduras for another key clash on June 11.

In the squad along with Austin is one-time United striker Jermaine Beckford, who made his debut for Jamaica in their World Cup qualifying clash with Panama in March.

• Keep abreast of news from your club, plus complete live match data and stats, with our new FREE apps. Versions for iPhone and Android.