The prospects of Shane Long being available for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 play-offs remain in the balance with his club manager Ronald Koeman explaining today that the Southampton striker is facing two to four weeks on the sidelines.
Ireland will face Hungary, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Sweden or Ukraine in the play-offs with the first legs taking part on November 12th/13th/14th and the second second legs following on November 15th/16th/17th. The draw for the play-offs will be made on Sunday morning.
Long, who scored Ireland’s winner against Germany last week, was stretchered off during the 2-1 defeat to Poland on Sunday with an ankle injury. Koeman confirmed today that Long has sustained ligament damage and will be out for “two to four weeks”.
“The Shane injury is a disappointment. It’s an ankle ligament injury and he will be out for two to four weeks,” Koeman said this afternoon.
“That’s a disappointment, but the rest of the players are happy to be back.”
Koeman was also keen to distance himself from talk of him becoming coach of the Netherlands. With the Dutch failing to qualify for the Euros after a 3-2 home defeat by the Czech Republic on Tuesday, Koeman could be the man to revitalise the side if current boss Danny Blind is sacked or quits.
But he appeared to dash any Dutch hopes of an immediate return when he was asked about his future. “I am the manager of Southampton and I’d like to stay. After this year I have one more season left on my contract so there is no possibility,” he said.
“One day maybe in the future - but it depends on a lot of things and about what happens in Holland.”
He also implied he did not think the Dutch were going to get back to the heights they have touched over the last 40 years, like reaching the World Cup final in 2010 and finishing third in Brazil last year.
“The competition in Holland is not the best one, it is a good school for young boys but they are still not ready for the highest level. It is difficult and we have to change but it is not up to me,” he added.
