Hull’s Lenihan answers Ireland call after Coleman injury
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Hull’s Lenihan answers Ireland call after Coleman injury

FORMER Cork City full-back Brian Lenihan has been added to the Ireland squad to play Gibraltar and Germany in the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Seamus Coleman's injury-enforced absence has led to an unexpected call-up for the Hull City player.

The 20-year-old was hugely impressive for Rebels in their title challenge in the SSE Airtricity League this year and has been featuring for Hull's Under-21 side.

"We are going to bring up young Brian Lenihan at Hull because we don't have any natural right-back in the team at the moment,” said Ireland manager Martin O'Neill.

"I was speaking to some of the lads here at Hull, who said he has settled in well, and of course he is delighted to be coming."

Coleman’s Everton colleague James McCarthy and Aston Villa keeper Shay Given are also on the injury list.

O’Neill said: "I haven't spoken to Roberto Martinez, but I had a word with Seamus - Seamus doesn't feel fantastic at the moment.

"There was talk about James being available, or trying to be available, for last Sunday's game against Manchester United, but I think that was a long shot.

"At the moment, you would say that there is no chance of them being available."

Asked about Given, O'Neill said: "He's picked up a hip injury that needs some sort of attention, and he thinks now might be the best time to get it done, to get it sorted out. It's been bothering him for a little while.

"We talked it over ourselves and thought maybe this might be the best chance so that he is clear, just in case anything happens to him in the next couple of months at club level, for instance if he did go out on loan or something like that, that he would be absolutely right for it."