91Èȱ¬

Norwich winger Anthony Pilkington will miss the Republic of Ireland's upcoming games, including the friendly against England and the World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Uncapped Pilkington scored in Norwich's 3-2 over Manchester City on Sunday.

A Football Association of Ireland statement said that Pilkington, 24, had pulled out because of a knee injury.

The FAI statement added that he had taken the decision "under the advice of Norwich's medical team".

"Anthony will undergo treatment on his knee over the coming weeks in preparation for the season ahead. There has been no replacement called up," continued the FAI.

England-born Pilkington, who qualifies via his Dublin-born paternal grandmother and was capped by the Republic Under-21s in 2008, was forced to pull out of the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria in March because of a hamstring injury.

On this occasion, he will miss the match against England at Wembley on 29 May in addition to the home games against Georgia (2 June) and the Faroe Islands (7 June) plus the friendly against Spain in New York on 11 June.

In addition to undergoing treatment on his knee injury over the coming weeks, Pilkington also gets married over the summer.

The Republic lie fourth in their World Cup group after conceding an injury-time goal against Austria to draw 2-2 in March, four days after securing a creditable 0-0 draw in Sweden.

All three sides currently have eight points, half the total amassed so far by leaders Germany.

Austria and Sweden meet in Vienna the same night as the Republic attempt to complete a double over the Faroes following their 4-1 victory in Torshavn in October.