Newcastle striker Leon Best has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia amid a growing injury crisis.
The 25-year-old former Coventry frontman has been called up by manager Giovanni Trapattoni, with West Brom's Shane Long likely to miss out because of a knee injury. Best has been in superb form for the Magpies, and his partnership with Demba Ba has been a key feature of the club's rise to third place in the Barclays Premier League table.
A statement released by the Football Association of Ireland on Thursday said: "The Football Association of Ireland today confirmed that Newcastle striker Leon Best has been called up into Giovanni Trapattoni's squad to face Estonia in the Euro 2012 play-offs on November 11 in A le Coq Arena, Tallinn, and November 15 in Aviva Stadium, Dublin."
Source: PA
