The Irish lost out on a place in South Africa last Wednesday courtesy of Thierry Henry's now infamous handball in the second leg in Paris.

Doyle played the full 120 minutes in the French capital and was left drained both physically and mentally by the events that unfolded.

While he would have loved to have helped his domestic team-mates at Stamford Bridge, the striker accepts Mick McCarthy was right to leave him out.

He told the Express and Star: "I came back last Friday and travelled down to watch the lads on Saturday. In a way I'd have liked to have gone out there and got it out of my system then but the sensible option was for me not to play.

"I did struggle to sleep afterwards, am still going to sleep now thinking about it all and I'm sure I will be for a while to come yet."