Denis Irwin is expected to be available for selection when Alex Ferguson names his team for Manchester United's Premiership meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Irwin required treatment after taking a knock in the closing stages of the European Champions League win over Marseille on Wednesday but was able to train with the rest of the squad yesterday.
Ferguson has the option of recalling one of his newer acquisitions, Mickael Silvestre, who was ineligible for the Marseille game, but the likelihood is that the Irishman will still be named at full back.
Irwin's recovery from injury is good news for Mick McCarthy who, as ever, will be monitoring the team news carefully before assembling his players for next Saturday's European Championship game against FYR Macedonia at Skopje.
McCarthy, breaking with normal practice, has no plans to watch a game today, preferring instead to stay close to base, to react to any developments. "This is traditionally a very worrying time, for with a full programme in England there is always the risk of players picking up an injury," he said.
"As of now, however, the outlook is encouraging. Denis Irwin is fine and as far as I'm aware all those chosen in our squad for Macedonia are available to play with their clubs over the weekend."
The Ireland manager, one suspects, will be particularly interested in Gordon Strachan's team selection for Coventry City's visit to Goodison Park to take on a revitalised Everton side.
Gary Breen was left out of the team which beat West Ham last Saturday and it's still not clear if the Coventry manager intends to reshuffle his defence to find a place for him now. Irrespective of Strachan's choice, Breen is likely to be selected to partner Kenny Cunningham at the centre of Ireland's defence at Skopje, but McCarthy would welcome the psychological boost of a club recall for the player so close to the big game.
While Breen waits and worries, Robbie Keane is certain to be delegated the task of spearheading Coventry's attack and the indications are that he will be joined in the front line by the Moroccan international Mustapha Hadji.
Gary Kelly, one of those who could emerge at the centre of Ireland's strategy in Macedonia, is expected to start for Leeds United against Watford tomorrow. And he could be joined in the side by Ian Harte who is due to enter hospital next week for a cartilage operation.
Niall Quinn will be in line for selection by Sunderland when they seek to give added impetus to their early-season charge with a win over Bradford. Gareth Whalley, the Ireland under-21 midfielder, is doubtful for Bradford because of a thigh strain.
Meanwhile, England manager Kevin Keegan threw the international door wide open again for two of the supposed `bad boys' of English football as he recalled Paul Ince and Dennis Wise to his squad to face Belgium in a friendly game next weekend.
Keegan gave himself some room for manoeuvre by naming a 25-strong squad for the friendly international as he will only learn 24 hours before kick-off whether Poland have clinched a European Championship play-off place ahead of England.
