Anthony Gavan from Maguiresbridge suffered a badly swollen eye, bruising and lost several teeth when a gang of up to 12 men set on a group of travelling fans enjoying the pre-match atmosphere at an Irish bar in the centre of Bratislava.

As many as 12 supporters sustained injuries in the unprovoked attack by perpetrators armed with baseball bats, batons and knuckle dusters.

Another fan, 18-year-old Gareth Marcus, sustained a serious groin injury and had a testicle removed on his return to Belfast.

Last week, the Irish Football Association confirmed the violent skirmish was being investigated by Slovak police and a formal response is imminent.

Speaking to the News Letter ahead of another dentist appointment as his recuperation continues, Anthony expressed regret he would not be in the stands at the Ljudski Vrt Stadium, Maribor on Saturday evening as he had hoped.

"I was supposed to go but I can't afford it now as I have had to take so many days off work – as much as I'd like too I can't do it," he said.

"We had it booked and everything but we had to cancel it – we would definitely be away if it had not been for Slovakia.

"I have had a lot of dental appointments which has meant I have had to book a lot of days off. When I came home I was off for a week-and-a-half and I must have missed 12 to 13 days' work in total. Money is a bit tight at the moment so I've decided not to go."

The 29-year-old admitted he was disappointed "big-time" by his enforced absence but that his mind is preoccupied with the next stage of his slow recovery. The Fermanagh man has undergone extensive dental treatment since returning home.

"I am getting my last tooth taken out and hopefully it will then settle before I then get a denture plate inserted.

"I lost eight out there (Bratislava) and when I got examined at home, the dentist told me some others were badly cracked so they had to be removed as well.

"At my age I was recommended replacement screw-in teeth but they cost as much as £800 to £1,000 per tooth so there was no way I could afford that," he said.

While all the physical bruises have since disappeared, Anthony still remains hopeful the assailants will be reprimanded in due course.

"I hope they get punished – I wouldn't want what happened to me to happen to somebody else again," he said.

"We raised the matter with the Amalgamation and they are taking it forward on our behalf – although I've heard nothing to date.

"I also got a call from Howard Wells the day after I returned.