Elliot injury blow for Irish

MARTIN O’NEILL suffered a major blow last night when keeper Rob Elliot suffered what was feared to be a serious knee injury during the Republic of Ireland’s 2-2 draw with Slovakia.

The Newcastle United No 1 left the pitch on a stretcher after quarter of an hour when he twisted his right knee while failing to stop Miroslav Stoch putting the visitors ahead.

From an Irish perspective, Elliot’s place at Euro 2016 could be in jeopardy.

More immediately, Newcastle could yet be forced to play the remainder of their Premier League survival run-in without one of their better performers.

He is expected to have a scan on Wednesday.

After West Ham’s Darren Randolph replaced Elliot in goal, O’Neill was at least able to watch his side recover on the night with a pair of penalties from Shane Long and James McClean to go 2-1 ahead, before Paul McShane’s own goal at the end of the first half levelled the game for Slovakia, who are one of Scotland’s World Cup qualifying opponents.

The Irish defence that looked so good against Switzerland was easily picked apart by a thrillingly quick team which will face England and Wales in France.

Elsewhere, world champions Germany put their surprise Berlin defeat to England behind them with a crushing 4-1 victory over Italy.

Toni Kroos put them ahead before a header from Liverpool target Mario Gotze made it two right on half-time in Munich.

Left-back Jonas Hector scored a third and Mesut Ozil converted a penalty before Stephan El Shaarawy drove in a consolation for Antonio Conte’s side.

Manchester City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov fired an 81st-minute free-kick winner for Serbia away to Estonia.