Dunne, Stokes to miss Carling Nations Cup

Richard Dunne and Anthony Stokes will miss Ireland’s Carling Nations Cup campaign which begins against Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Aston Villa defender Dunne has struggled with persistent shoulder and Achilles injuries this season and is suspended for Ireland’s upcoming Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia, leading coach Giovanni Trapattoni to leave him out of his squad to face Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

“He (Dunne) is suspended also for the Macedonia game so it is better (for him) to stay at home,” Trapattoni said.

Celtic striker Stokes will join Ciaran Clark and Caleb Folan on the sidelines after he cited tiredness for his unavailability.

The 22-year-old played for his club in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday, but informed the Irish Football Association shortly after the match the he would be unavailable for the qualifier against Macedonia and the three Carling Nations Cup fixtures.

Trapattoni said he is yet to decide on his final squad for Tuesday’s match against Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with several players still away on club duty.

“Up to now I don’t know which squad I will have,” Trapattoni said. “Now I wait on players. I have players having scans and I hope they will be ready.”

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington said he had no new injuries in his squad and was looking forward to welcoming Blackpool’s Craig Cathcart into the fold.

“Craig Cathcart is coming this afternoon. Everybody else trained this morning,” Worthington said.

“They are in good fettle and it was a lively session. They are in good form.”

Defender Gareth McAuley will wear the captain’s armband on Tuesday just a day after signing with West Brom on a free transfer from Ipswich.

“I’m delighted to get it sorted out. It’s been going on for a couple of weeks and that’s it done,” McAuley said.

“It’s another step up, another progression in the journey of my career. It’s a challenge to get into the team first and foremost.”

“I’ve worked hard and sometimes you get the rewards. I’ve now got to get into the team and prove I can play there.”

Northern Ireland team: A Blayney, A Thompson, C Cathcart, G McAuley, L Hodson, J Carson, S Clingan, S Davis, J Gorman, W Feeney, J McQuoid.