Republic Duff concerns increase

WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v FRANCE
First leg: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 November Kick-off: 1900 GMT Second leg: Stade de France, Paris Date: Wednesday, 18 November Kick-off: 1900 GMT Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Sport website

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Duff was forced off in Fulham's win over Liverpool on Saturday

Fears over Damien Duff's availability for the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off against France have increased.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson expects injured Duff to miss Sunday's Barclays Premier League game against Wigan.

Duff has an Achilles injury and now appears to be a major doubt for the 14 November opener at Croke Park with the second leg in Paris four days later.

France will be without injured Gael Clichy and Franck Ribery while Patrick Vieira has been left out of the squad.

France coach Raymond Domenech has called up Lyon defender Aly Cissokho but Vieira remains out of favour.

With left back Gael Clichy ruled out with a back injury, Domenech needs cover and he watched Cissokho play in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Veteran Vieira has been blighted by nagging injuries and has rarely played for Inter Milan over the past two seasons.

Full-back Clichy has a back injury while Bayern Munich star Ribery is ruled out by a knee injury.

Fulham trio Duff, Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson are all ruled out for Thursday's Europa League clash against Roma and Hodgson expects them to also miss Sunday's game against Wigan.

"I don't think there's much hope for Johnson, Murphy and Duff for the weekend," Hodgson said.

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Speaking last weekend, Hodgson had appeared more optimistic about Duff's chances of being available for the World Cup play-off.

"It is very hard stopping Damien playing for the Republic of Ireland. You have to lock him in a cage," added the Fulham boss after Duff came off during the win over Liverpool.

"It's an injury he has been struggling with for a while.

"It stems from his Achilles, although it's a little bit more complicated than that.

"There is no way I would even consider him for Roma. I will ask the medical staff to take as long as they need to try to get him back into shape as quickly as they can.

"And if he's fit for next Sunday then there's no reason why he shouldn't play for the Republic."

Duff is a key member of manager Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic squad.

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Republic of Ireland squad: Given (Man City), Westwood (Coventry), Murphy (Scunthorpe), O'Shea (Man Utd), Dunne (Villa), Kelly (Fulham), Kilbane (Hull), Nolan (Preston), St Ledger (Middlesbrough), McShane (Hull), O'Dea (Reading), McGeady (Celtic), Duff (Fulham), Gibson (Man Utd), Whelan (Stoke), Andrews (Blackburn), Miller (Hibernian), Hunt (Hull), Keogh (Wolves), Lawrence (Stoke), Doyle (Wolves), Keane (Tottenham), Long (Reading), Best (Coventry), Stokes (Hibernian).

France squad: Carrasso (Bordeaux), Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille), Abidal (Barcelona), Cissokho (Lyon), Escude (Sevilla), Evra (Manchester United), Fanni (Rennes), Gallas (Arsenal), Sagna (Arsenal), Squillaci (Sevilla), Diaby (Arsenal), Diarra (Bordeaux), Diarra (Real Madrid), Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Toulalan (Lyon), Malouda (Chelsea), Sissoko (Toulouse), Govou (Lyon), Anelka (Chelsea), Benzema (Real Madrid), Gignac (Toulouse), Henry (Barcelona), Remy (Nice)