Blackburn Rovers midfielder Keith Treacy has been pulled out of the Republic of Ireland's Under 21 international with Bulgaria in Athlone this evening due to a slight hamstring strain.

Manager Don Givens has decided it is not worth taking a risk on the 19-year-old, who made an impressive debut for the Republic's Under 21s in Friday's game with Montenegro.

Givens said: "We have lost Keith Treacy, he has gone back to Blackburn with a slight hamstring problem, which we just didn't think was worth taking a risk with the boy.

"If he broke down he could be out for five or six weeks and he is doing well at Blackburn at the moment, he has made his way into the first team squad, and is very close to the first team.

"All of that came into my mind with the decision to send him back to the club.

"From what we saw of Keith in Montenegro, especially in the second half, he will be an asset to us, there are no two ways about that."