Duff to miss Brazilian tie

News: Brian Kerr confirmed last night that he will be without Damien Duff for Wednesday night's encounter with Brazil but the Republic of Ireland manager looked forward to having an otherwise full-strength squad to choose from when he selects the team to take on the world champions, Brazil, in front of a sell-out crowd at Lansdowne Road.

Duff spoke with Kerr on Friday night when the Chelsea winger conceded that he had little chance of making either yesterday's FA Cup clash at Arsenal or this week's international game.

"The game came a week too quickly for him," said Kerr last night, "but I think the 22 we have left should be enough to get by with, even against Brazil."

While admitting that the loss of the 24-year-old is a blow, Kerr expressed some satisfaction with the strength of the panel that started to assemble yesterday for the game. Clinton Morrison (eye), Joe Murphy (back), Matt Holland (groin) and Jason McAteer, who Kerr said, "is just sore after taking a few knocks in a tough game", arrived in Dublin looking a little bruised or battered. But, added the manager, "the lads have shown a lot of commitment in coming for games, whoever the opposition, since I took over, and we look like having 22 out of 23 this time so we have plenty of quality to work with."

The absence through injury of Colin Healy and Liam Miller is, he says, unfortunate for players who may well have got a run against the world's best side but, he added, "we'll still be looking to give some of the fellas who haven't been so involved the chance to play, not just in this game but over the course of the friendlies we have lined up during the next few months.

"With the qualifying campaign involving double headers, it's important that we don't end up with lads who are earning their second or third cap in big games. We want them to be familiar with each other as well so we'll look to give everybody an opportunity to show what they can do."

Nottingham Forest's Andy Reid, who made such a huge impact on his first senior international appearance against Canada back in November, may benefit from Duff's absence, although not necessarily on the left side of midfield where Kevin Kilbane is also a strong contender to start.

Jason McAteer could start on the right flank for the first time since captaining the side in Moscow almost 18 months ago, but the 32-year-old, now the squad's most senior and experienced player, said that, having regained his fitness after a battle with hamstring, groin and hernia problems and established himself in Sunderland's central midfield, he is hoping for a chance to prove himself in his preferred position at international level too.

"It's where I played at Bolton, where I established myself. It's where I'm playing again now and it's suits my hamstrings. Brian's seen me play there a few times and it would be nice to get the chance to play there.

"But if I'm asked to play out wide I'll play there," he continued before adding with a grin, "I'm sure Roberto Carlos will be shitting himself about the prospect of Trigger running at him with two dodgy hamstrings!"

Having contemplated following the likes of Dean Kiely and Gary Kelly into early international retirement, McAteer says that his goal now is to wrap up his career with Ireland with a third appearance at a major finals.

"I considered it but felt I wanted to give it another go. It's not that I'd look back at the last World Cup and say, 'I was only on for 55 minutes out there so I've got to qualify for another one to put that right'. It would just be a great was to finish off my career. It'll be tough, though. France are, well, they're another Holland for us I suppose but we know what happened there."

Wednesday's game is an opportunity for the team to show how it deals with rivals of such quality but McAteer is defiant. "We certainly won't be overawed by them. We'll give Brazil a game. Things have moved on a lot in the 18 months I was out. We have the likes of Damien at Chelsea, Robbie at Spurs, Shay at Newcastle and Steve at Liverpool, all world-class lads at the top of their game with big clubs. You feel we're in with a real chance again."

Rep of Ireland v Brazil Wednesday, February 18th Lansdowne Road,

7.30