Midfielder James McCarthy will miss the rest of the Republic of Ireland's Carling Nations Cup campaign with an ankle injury, his Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed.
Martinez revealed the Latics had sent the relevant medical reports to the Irish camp, a day after national team boss Giovanni Trapattoni said one player, believed to be McCarthy, had not returned his calls ahead of tonight's clash with Northern Ireland and Sunday's meeting with Scotland.
But Martinez insists there is no suggestion of McCarthy having gone AWOL, and that he needs a month-long rest after suffering the injury against Stoke at the weekend.
'He had a challenge in the game against Stoke with Jermaine Pennant, we had a scan and the scan revealed grade one ligament damage in his right ankle,' the Spaniard said this afternoon.
'We passed the report to the Republic of Ireland medical team and they are well, well aware. That is where James had an operation earlier this season and it is an area that is a bit of a concern.
'We have to work together to try and get him a speedy recovery but he is not available to play and he will need at least three or four weeks to recover.'
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