The headline news from Ireland’s squad announcement for next week’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Czechia may centre around who made the cut, but there are also several notable absentees.

At the top of that list is Evan Ferguson, who misses out due to his ongoing ankle injury.

The Brighton striker has endured a frustrating period in recent months, during a difficult loan spell at Roma that has been interrupted by fitness issues. However, Ferguson has remained a key figure for Ireland whenever available, delivering regularly in green despite his club struggles.

His absence is a significant blow for Heimir Hallgrímsson, particularly given Ireland’s lack of depth in the forward line.

There had been hope that Ferguson might return in time for the playoff, but his ongoing issues mean he will play no part in Prague.

Another name that had been widely discussed in the lead-up to the squad announcement was David McGoldrick.

The 38-year-old has been in excellent form for Barnsley in League One, prompting speculation that he could earn a surprise recall to the international setup after years out of the fold.

However, despite those rumours, McGoldrick has not been included in Hallgrímsson’s squad.

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While his experience and recent performances had made him an interesting option, the Ireland boss has instead opted to look elsewhere in his attacking selections.

In midfield, Josh Cullen is another expected absentee.

The Burnley captain suffered a serious ACL injury earlier in the season and was never in contention for this window. Cullen has been a hugely important player for Ireland in recent years, and his absence continues to be felt in the centre of the park.

Also omitted in midfield is Will Smallbone, Smallbone who has featured regularly under Hallgrímsson does not make the cut this time and will have to wait to add to his 15 caps.

Festy Ebosele also misses out, Ebosele is suspended for the Czechia game but defender Liam Scales is in the same boat and has been included, Ebosele has struggled for minutes in Turkey this season.

Another of the omissions comes in defence, with Kevin O’Toole not included in the squad.

The New York City FC left-back was a surprise call-up in the previous squad, raising eyebrows at the time. The 27-year-old did not feature during that window, and he has not retained his place for this crucial playoff fixture.

While the focus will naturally fall on the players selected for the Czechia clash, these absences highlight some of the challenges facing Hallgrímsson.

Ferguson’s injury removes one of Ireland’s most talented attacking options, with Troy Parrott set to shoulder the goalscoring pressure.

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