Recent international call-up, Sammie Szmodics will have to wait to make his Ireland debut as the Peterborough player has been ruled out of the upcoming games against Andorra and Hungary.
The 25-year-old has picked up a recurrence of an old shoulder injury, and as a result, will miss both games of the international window.
The attack-minded midfielder has had an impressive season with the League 1 club, helping to secure promotion to the Championship, while also scoring 15 goals throughout the campaign.
"Sam Szmodics hurt his shoulder, just a previous injury that he had," said Ireland manager Stephen Kenny at this afternoon's press conference ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Andorra.
"He just came down awkwardly on his shoulder. It's nothing serious, but it's an injury he had earlier in the season, so that will rule him out."
Ireland captain Seamus Coleman is also ruled out of the game in the Pyrenees, while former Cork City attacker, Chiedozie Ogbene is a concern but should be fit to play. Otherwise, the manager has a clean bill of health as his side look to secure the first victory of his tenure.
"Everyone's okay. Chiedozie Ogbene had a tight groin, but I think he'll be fine."
Conor Hourihane was also on media duties ahead of the game, however, it was not in a captain’s role, in the absence of Coleman.
The manager said that he would address the captaincy later this evening when he tells the players the team.
"I've decided on the shape of the team. But obviously I'll keep that to myself. We're training later, we'll select the team and so forth and get ready for tomorrow.
"No, [Hourihane] won't actually [be captain]. I haven't named that yet, but he won't be.
"We'll address that later on."
Hourihane, however, did admit that the players were keen to get a victory sooner rather than later having gone 11 games without a win since Kenny took charge of the international side.
"It's not been easy at all, there's no getting away from that," said Hourihane. "And hopefully [we’ll win] sooner rather than later.
"We all know and want that to be the case, that we get than monkey off our back get the win that we all want, and keep moving in the right direction.
"It's important. It would be great for the newer lads to taste victory in a green shirt, so hopefully that can come tomorrow because it's a special feeling when you win for your country, when you win for Ireland. It would be brilliant."
Follow Andorra v Ireland (Thursday, 5pm) via our live blog on RTE.ie and the RTÉ News app or watch on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
