Irish international midfielder Mark Kinsella is expected to miss the first six games of the season and is in danger of missing the Republic's crucial World Cup qualifier against Group 2 rivals Holland on September 1. The Charlton skipper struggled with persistent knee problems last year and is set to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Kinsella has formed an impressive partnership with Roy Keane in the heart of the Irish midfield and his loss would be a cruel to Mick McCarthy's plans of securing a place in the final stages of a major tournament since taking over from Jack Charlton in 1996.
Charlton, will also have to plan without winger John Robinson, who underwent a hernia operation today and will miss the opening month, while midfielder Radostin Kishishev is also ruled out for four months after he sustained cruciate ligament damage while playing for Bulgaria this summer.
Filed by Shane Murray
