Potential injury headache may be creeping up on Ireland ahead of key World Cup qualifier

All these niggles and knocks to Irish defenders are beginning to pile up.

Republic of Ireland face Austria in a crunch World Cup 2018 qualifying game next weekend but injury concerns are starting to mount for Martin O'Neill. Hamstring injuries to Stephen Ward and John O'Shea saw them both get left out of their respective club squads for this weekend's round of matches meaning they're both concerns for the Austria game. Cyrus Christie can be added to the list after he was taken off with a nasty-looking ankle injury during Derby Country's league clash with Wolves. The right back went down in a heap clutching his ankle just before the interval after he appeared land awkwardly, rolling over his ankle. He received lengthy treatment on the pitch and came back out for the second half, but was eventually taken off after he was clearly struggling with the knock. https://twitter.com/dcfcofficial/status/794896941989691392?lang=en If Christie gets ruled out, Paul McShane may benefit entering the final squad as the second-string right back behind Seamus Coleman. Coleman's Everton teammate James McCarthy is also a doubt for the game after a groin injury saw him become the centre of a club vs country dispute. Despite Ronald Koeman wanting the player to rest during the international break, he was drafted into O'Neill's provisional squad. Who are the winners of the much-coveted 2016 Wooly Awards? Find out in our GAA Hour Special