Hoolahan, Clark and Arter join Republic of Ireland's growing injury list

Centre-backs Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy will both miss the qualifier against Wales

Wales look set to face a Republic of Ireland side hit by injuries for their crucial World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Friday.

Republic boss Martin O'Neill has a major selection headache with first-choice central defensive pairing, Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark, already ruled out of the Aviva Stadium clash.

Midfielders Harry Arter and Wes Hoolahan are both out injured too.

Burnley's Robbie Brady is suspended, leaving the midfield depleted.

The latest loss for O'Neill is Newcastle striker, Daryl Murphy. There had been hopes he might make the Wales game, but a scan on his calf injury has ruled him out.

The loss of Norwich's Hoolahan is a huge blow in particular for the Irish.

The playmaker is facing several weeks on the sidelines after a scan on Monday confirmed the extent of the thigh injury he suffered half an hour into the Canaries' win over Barnsley on Saturday.

Manager O'Neill said: "Wes is out, definitely out, and obviously it's not great, not great for us, not great for him and not great for his club".

O'Neill is bracing himself for more gloomy news with Everton midfielder James McCarthy still nursing a hamstring strain.

"James has come over and we'll see how he is," he said.

"He'll just take it on a day-to-day basis. He thinks that he might be able to make it - that would be great if he can. If he doesn't, well, we'll just have to do without him."

Ireland captain, Everton right-back Seamus Coleman, and Aberdeen midfielder Jonny Hayes are both nursing ankle problems, but are expected to be fit.

Ireland are unbeaten and top Group D with 10 points from their opening four qualifiers, while Chris Coleman's Wales are four points behind in third.

O'Neill said: "The irony of all of this is that way back when Gareth Bale got injured in November, everybody was talking about Wales possibly having one of their major players out of the team, and it turns out that we are the ones who are doing the suffering".

"But it is what it is and we'll get on with it and we'll be ready to go on Friday."

Coleman, Hayes and striker Shane Long all sat out training at Abbotstown on Tuesday morning, but all as a precaution.

Republic of Ireland squad -

Goalkeepers- Darren Randolph, Keiren Westwood, Colin Doyle

Defenders - Seamus Coleman, Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce, John O'Shea, Andy Boyle, John Egan, Stephen Ward

Midfielders - Aiden McGeady, Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady, Conor Hourihane, David Meyler, Eunan O'Kane, James McClean, Jonathan Hayes, Daryl Horgan, Callum O'Dowda

Forwards - Jonathan Walters, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Kevin Doyle.