Norwich City's Robbie Brady has not flown out to Moldova with the rest of the Republic of Ireland squad on Friday afternoon after being knocked unconscious in a sickening second-half collision during Thursday's 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Georgia.
Brady has stayed behind in Dublin to recuperate for the next few days, after suffering head and rib injuries, before returning to the Canaries' set-up to be assessed by City's medical staff ahead of the club's Championship home return against Rotherham.
The 24-year-old required lengthy treatment on the pitch at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night following a clash of heads and left the field surrounded by paramedics with his neck in a protective brace and wearing an oxygen mask before later being taken to hospital in an ambulance.
Republic of Ireland officials confirmed Brady had regained consciousness after the 76th minute incident involving Georgia's Saba Kvirkvelia and was able to talk in the dressing room immediately after the game.
Kvirkvelia was left with blood pouring from a head wound but team mate Guram Kashia was quick to put Brady in the recovery position, along with Jon Walters, as medical staff raced onto the pitch.
Kashia has been widely praised for his quick reactions and the Georgia defender admitted he feared for the Norwich City starlet.
'He was unconscious but shaking violently and I saw his tongue going around into the back of his throat. It was scary and looked very dangerous, but I knew to control myself in the situation,' he told the Irish Daily Star. 'I knew you had to hold the neck and reach in to him immediately, it was looking really bad for him. Then I tried to hold his tongue until the doctor got there and thankfully he was there quickly.'
Irish boss Martin O'Neill had indicated in his post-match press Brady was likely to miss the Moldova trip under concussion protocols.
'Robbie was out cold for a while, but he came back around again. The doctors seem pleased,' he said. 'Naturally we're all hoping the lad will be fine as he's brave as a lion and showed great courage. He's a fine player and he was starting to get into the game.'
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