It looks like Martin O’Neill will be without yet another key player for crunch Wales match

It just keeps getting worse and worse.

Ireland are just under six days away from their crucial World Cup qualifier against Wales at the Aviva Stadium. With Ireland already four points ahead of Wales who are third in Group D, a win against Chris Coleman's side could all but end the Welsh hopes of securing qualification for the world football's showpiece event set to take place in Russia next year. https://twitter.com/RTEsoccer/status/797554828545298433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw The Welsh will be disappointed with having only recorded one win in the qualifying campaign so far. However, they remain undefeated and if their performances in Euro 2016 are anything to go by, they remain a very dangerous side who have the potential to put a dent in Ireland's qualifying ambitions. Any side which has the quality of Gareth Bale in their team can do damage and Ireland will need to be at their very best if they are to get a positive result on Friday. The chances of this happening are diminishing by the day, however. Ireland are being hampered with a number of injury worries ahead next week's match. Today, Wes Hoolahan was subbed off with a thigh injury in Norwich City's 2-0 win over Barnsley. with the seriousness of the injury still to be determined. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/843136790496206848 This in addition to doubts over James McCarthy, Richard Keogh and the unavailability of Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy, not to mention Robbie Brady's suspension, well it's safe to say Ireland are short on numbers. Well things seem to have gotten worse as Bournmouth manager, Eddie Howe, has given a worrying update on Harry Arter's injury to Today FM.

"I think he'll be potentially out of the Ireland squad. I don't know officially, but I would have thought there's no way he'll play."

Ireland will likely want to conduct their own assessment on the injury which ruled Arter out of today's match against Swansea City but if Howe's comments are anything to go by, things don't sound particularly good.