Martin O'Neill will be anxiously awaiting an update on Shane Duffy after the Brighton and Hove Albion defender hobbled out of the 1-1 draw with Everton 17 minutes from time.
Wayne Rooney scored a 90th-minute penalty to salvage a point for the Toffees, with Derry native Duffy forced out of the action late in the game, clutching his groin.
The centre-half was immense in Cardiff as Ireland snatched the victory they required to make the World Cup play-offs, which will be played in a month.
Disappointing not to hold on to all 3 points but up against a very good Everton team which will come good. Hoping injury ain’t too bad with my groin. Great too play against Everton for the first time since leaving great club! #bhafc 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/K5O75lrcfK
— Shane Duffy (@shaneduffy) October 15, 2017
Sean Maguire suffered a hamstring injury a half an hour into Preston's draw at Fulham, and with Jon Walters definitely out, a Duffy injury would be massive blow to preparations for the two-legged showdown with either Denmark, Switzerland, Italy or Croatia.
Brighton had looked on course to take all three points from a drab match when Anthony Knockaert pounced on a loose ball and fired home eight minutes from full-time.
Yet defender Bruno caught Dominic Calvert-Lewin with an elbow in the final minute and Rooney converted the resulting penalty to rescue a point for Ronald Koeman's side, whose difficult start to the season continued.
The draw moves both teams on to eight points and lifts them one place in the table, Brighton to 14th and Everton to 16th.
