Source: Team_Talk
Andrews relieved as Duffy improves
Midfielder Keith Andrews has revealed the relief within the Republic of Ireland camp at Shane Duffy's recovery from a life-threatening injury.[LNB] Andrews and his senior colleagues met up at the Republic's Malahide training headquarters on Sunday barely 36 hours after the 18-year-old Everton defender came within seconds of death after rupturing his left hepatic artery in a freak training-ground accident.[LNB]But for the chance presence of the team's surgeon, Professor John O'Byrne, and the efforts of Ireland doctor Alan Byrne on the pitch, and later staff at Dublin's Mater Hospital, Duffy could have died after losing two-thirds of his blood supply.[LNB]Andrews said: "It's obviously a freak, tragic accident - and it could have been a hell of a lot worse by all accounts.[LNB]"Luckily, we had our surgeon here just watching with his son, which was a massive stroke of luck because if that hadn't been the case and the ambulance hadn't been here and certain other factors, it could have been a tragic, tragic outcome.[LNB]"But by all accounts now, he is on the mend and hopefully he is going to make a full recovery.[LNB]"The lads have been saying what a lovely lad he is, and he has made a good impression on and off the pitch this week, so hopefully he can make a full recovery sooner rather than later."[LNB]Duffy has been moved from intensive care to the hospital's high dependency unit, and could be discharged at the weekend.[LNB]In the meantime, his relieved squad-mates will turn their attention to this week's friendlies against Paraguay and Algeria and in the longer term, the start of their European Championship qualifying campaign, which gets under way in September.[LNB]Paraguay and Algeria are heading to South Africa for the World Cup finals, something Ireland might also have been doing if it had not been for Thierry Henry's infamous handball in their play-off clash in Paris last November.[LNB]However, Andrews insists they cannot dwell upon their disappointment or sense of injustice as they attempt to ensure there is no repeat next time around.[LNB]He said: "It's done and dusted now. It's been spoken about now for whatever it is, six months or whatever. No, I have certainly got over it.[LNB]"I am sure it won't be nice when it kicks off and the games are in full flow, but there is nothing we can do about it now.[LNB]"We just need to make sure we are not in the same position in two years' time and we are missing out on a major tournament again.[LNB]"When these games come around from September onwards, the lads will certainly have the bit between their teeth and we will be doing everything we can to get there."[LNB]Eddie Nolan and Keith Treacy have withdrawn from the squad because of injury, joining Duffy, Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Aiden McGeady, Kevin Kilbane and James McCarthy on the sidelines, while Kevin Doyle did not train last night because of illness and Cillian Sheridan sat out with a slight calf problem.
