Clark handed Republic call-up

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad as manager Giovanni Trapattoni faces an injury crisis.

Clark was expected to arrive at the Republic's Portmarnock base on Monday evening as the Italian faced up to the loss of central defender Sean St Ledger and midfielder Glenn Whelan, who were both due to have scans on Monday afternoon.

The pair suffered hamstring injuries while playing for Leicester and Stoke respectively over the weekend and are rated as extremely doubtful to be fit for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands.

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.