Ireland & Ipswich Town star Chiedozie Ogbene stretchered off in worrying scenes

REPUBLIC of Ireland star Chiedozie Ogbene was stretchered off in the first-half of Ipswich’s Premier League clash with Brentford this afternoon.

The speedy Cork winger bundled to the ground before being treated by medics prior to being stretchered off.

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Most worryingly, the Irishman’s injury was sustained after a non-contact incident.

27-year-old former Luton Town star appeared to be in serious pain as he left the Gtech Community Stadium pitch.

In a further blow to Ciaran McKenna’s Tractor Boys, they lost the back and forth game to Brentford 4-3 after taking a two-nil lead in the Premier League clash.

The news will also come as a major worry for Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson.

Ireland are set to play in the mid-November Nations League games with Finland and England, and need points if they’re not to be relegated to League C.

Ireland also look to be without Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone after an injury on his return game earlier this week.

Smallbone returned from the five-match spell during The Saints home defeat to Leicester last Saturday but it ended badly for the Ireland ace.

According to his boss Russell Martin, the 24-year-old played through the pain barrier after he suffered a similar injury on his comeback game.

Saints had already used all five replacements as Leicester fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

Saints’ boss Martin said: “Will Smallbone is out now for a little bit of time, which is really frustrating and disappointing for us.”

The Ireland international missed the Nations League double-header against Finland and Greece earlier this month after due to a hamstring injury.

Ireland have fallen to a nine-year low in FIFA’s World Rankings despite beating Finland earlier this month. 

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s outfit have dropped one place to 63rd in the rankings after this month’s win against Finland and loss to Greece to taken into account. 

The ranking is the lowest Ireland have been since March 2015, and close to the lowest ever of 70th in June 2014.