Roy Keane is a major doubt for Ireland's World Cup playoff against Iran, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said tonight.
Keane, the United and Ireland captain, has missed United's last five matches with a knee injury, although media reports suggested he could recover in time for the two-legged playoff.
But after a virtual United reserve side had lost 4-0 away to Arsenal in the third round of the Worthington Cup tonight, Ferguson said: "He is doubtful.
"He felt it again (in training) on Saturday. He will have more physiotherapy, but he's very doubtful."
The Republic of Ireland meet Iran in the first leg at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, with the return in Tehran on November 15th.
The winners qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals, which start in Japan and South Korea on May 31th.