The 25-year-old was already a doubt for the national squad after suffering groin and toe injuries.
However, it appears that the reason behind Best's omission is the imminent birth of his child.
The frontman is the third player to pull out of the Ireland squad, following West Bromwich Albion's Shane Long and Portsmouth winger Liam Lawrence.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Arsenal | 37 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 89 | 28 | 61 | 86 |
| 2 | Manchester CityMan City | 36 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 91 | 33 | 58 | 85 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 36 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 81 | 38 | 43 | 78 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 36 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 73 | 53 | 20 | 67 |
| 5 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 36 | 19 | 6 | 11 | 71 | 59 | 12 | 63 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 36 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 79 | 57 | 22 | 57 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 73 | 61 | 12 | 57 |
| 8 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 52 | 56 | -4 | 54 |
| 9 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 37 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 59 | 71 | -12 | 52 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 36 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 54 | 58 | -4 | 48 |
| 11 | Bournemouth | 37 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 53 | 65 | -12 | 48 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 37 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 52 | 58 | -6 | 46 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 37 | 13 | 7 | 17 | 50 | 63 | -13 | 46 |
| 14 | Fulham | 37 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 51 | 59 | -8 | 44 |
| 15 | Everton | 37 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 39 | 49 | -10 | 40 |
| 16 | Brentford | 37 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 54 | 61 | -7 | 39 |
| 17 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 37 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 47 | 66 | -19 | 29 |
| 18 | Luton TownLuton | 37 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 50 | 81 | -31 | 26 |
| R | Burnley | 37 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 40 | 76 | -36 | 24 |
| R | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 37 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 35 | 101 | -66 | 16 |
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