STEPHEN CARR, among the brighter prospects in Irish football, will be given an opportunity of vindicating that rating in this evening's under 21 game against Norway at Drogheda.

After missing the 2-2 draw with the National Olympic side at, Richmond Park earlier in the month, the Tottenham player returns for the more demanding assignment of attempting to master the Norwegians.

Although Mick McCarthy is not short of options at full back, informed opinion has it that Carr could be challenging for higher honours within the next couple of seasons, as the manager embarks on an ambitious rebuilding programme.

Carr's consistent level of performance deserved to rate as one of the more encouraging features of the European under 21 championship campaign in which the team never attained sufficient consistency to reach the finals.

Ian Evans, who has succeeded Maurice Setters as manager of the under 21 team, is not unaware of the dimensions of the job ahead but he will derive some consolation from the inclusion of the Blackburn player, Dave Worrell.

Worrell joins Carr and Kevin Kilbane of Preston in a defence which will carry a lot of responsibility. Further afield, much interest will attach to the contributions of such as Ian Harte (Leeds), Steve Finnan (Birmingham), Shaun Carey (Norwich) and Rory Delap (Carlisle).