Treacy out of Trap's squad

Aidan Fitzmaurice

PRESTON winger Keith Treacy is the latest player to cry off international duty with Ireland in Dublin next week.

The highly-rated Dubliner, who joined Preston from Blackburn in January, has been capped at U21 level and Treacy was expected to make the step-up to the senior squad for the friendlies at the RDS against Algeria and Paraguay later this month as well as taking part in a training camp which starts on Sunday week, but he's now out of contention as Treacy has decided to undergo surgery on a long-standing hernia problem.

He joins a list of players like Stephen Hunt, David Meyler and Stephen Ward, as well as team-mate Sean St Ledger, who are all missing out on Ireland action.

"Keith has a hernia and is having an operation to cure it. His call-up by the Republic of Ireland will go by the wayside. But I've got to think of the club first and Keith is aware of that," said Preston boss Darren Ferguson.

"It's a bonus for him that he got called up and I'm sure there will be further opportunities.

"He's going to be a big player for us next season. We will get a good pre-season into him, that's really important. Then we will see a fitter Keith Treacy and a better player for it," added Ferguson, who confirmed that St Ledger should be fit for the start of the new season as he undergoes surgery on a knee problem next week.

OUT

"The operation Sean is having won't keep him out for long. He will be back for pre-season," he said.

Meanwhile Preston boss Ferguson has confirmed that Ireland internationals Eddie Nolan and Stephen Elliott have been transfer-listed by the club. Defender Nolan, who is in the 23-man squad for next week's training camp, was on loan to relegated Sheffield Wednesday while Elliott was loaned out to Norwich City.