Toon ace gets Ireland call

Newcastle striker Leon Best has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia.

The 25-year-old former Coventry frontman has been called up by manager Giovanni Trapattoni, with West Brom's Shane Long likely to miss out because of a knee injury. Best has been in superb form for the Magpies and his partnership with Demba Ba has been a key feature of the club's rise to third place in the Barclays Premier League table.