St Ledger eyes rare Leicester start

SEAN ST LEDGER has been handed a Euro 2012 lifeline thanks to a refereeing decision, writes AIDAN FITZMAURICE.

The Ireland defender is going through what he calls a "nightmare" spell at Leicester City as he has failed to even make the bench for the Foxes' last five games -- and last week St Ledger expressed fears that the lack of first-team action could cost him his place in the Ireland team ahead of next month's European Championship play-off against Estonia.

St Ledger was once again a frustrated spectator for Leicester's Championship clash with Birmingham City yesterday.

But Matt Mills' sending off has given St Ledger hope that he will get a run in the side -- and that could be as early as the midweek meeting with Watford.

the ticket scramble for the away leg of the Euro 2012 play-off with Estonia began in earnest today as the Estonian FA put match tickets on general sale.

With a capacity of just over 13,000 at the Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, tickets will be hard to source. Even though the FAI has secured an allocation of 1,400 tickets from the Estonians, it's estimated that up to three times that number of Irish fans may travel.

The Estonian FA announced that ticket sales began at 10am today, costing €10-16.

Irish fans who have friends in Estonia have urged them to snap up as many tickets as possible to accommodate the travelling fans.

Reading boss Brian McDermott has allayed fears over the health of former Ireland U21 cap Jay Tabb.

The midfielder was hospitalised after a fall in Saturday's win over Burnley.

"Jay was unconscious for 30 seconds on the pitch and then came round and has gone to hospital, but Luke Anthony, our physio, has said he's OK," said McDermott.