Cunningham out of action for months

Galway native and Manchester City defender Greg Cunningham – on loan at Championship side, Leicester City – could miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg in the Foxes’ 1-0 win over Hull earlier last weekend. 

The former Mervue United player broke his tibia just above his right ankle in the First Division clash and he subsequently underwent surgery on Saturday night. The initial prognosis is that the talented 19-year-old will be out for at least four months. 

The injury represents a major blow for the Galway youngster, who had claimed the left full-back position ahead of Swiss international defender Bruno Berner in Sven Goran-Erikkson’s Leicester outfit.

However, there may be a ray of light, after Eriksson hinted that he would like to make Cunningham’s move from Manchester to Walker Stadium a permanent one. 

“I would like to buy Greg,” stated Eriksson recently. “He is very good. He has been brilliant for us, one of our best players all season. He is very brave and is a very good player.” 

Cunningham was stretchered off after 62 minutes of the game – the victim of a challenge from Hull City full-back Liam Rosenior, who was sent off for the incident. The injury is a huge blow for Cunningham given that he was revelling in a fine run of appearances in senior football. 

Indeed, the Irish full-back looked to have secured permission from Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini to play in the televised FA Cup third round tie between Man City and his current club this Sunday. 

While on loan, players cannot line out against parent clubs in a Premier League clash, the FA Cup rules do allow such an action – a precedent which was set when Spurs Jamie O’Hara lined out with Portsmouth against his parent club in the 2010 semi-final. 

Of course, the injury is also a set-back to Cunningham’s international career. The Galway native has been touted as the natural successor to the ageing Kevin Kilbane and would, most likely, have featured in the Republic of Ireland’s Carling Nations Cup game against Wales on February 8. 

Now, though, he will not only miss this tie, but also the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia, leaving Kevin Kilbane and, possibly, the versatile Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark – who scored the late equaliser against Chelsea recently – and Wolves’ Stephen Ward vying for the left back berth. 

However, should Cunningham – who is currently rehabilitating back at Manchester City – return to competitive action, and form, by May, then he will, no doubt, be very much in Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s thoughts heading into the return leg, away, against Macedonia on June 4.