ANOTHER front line option was lost to Mick McCarthy yesterday after Wimbledon's Jon Goodman had been ruled out of Sunday's World Cup game.

Goodman is still recuperating" from a groin injury and may not be ready to return to training for at least another week.

In the absence of Niall Quinn, Keith O'Neill and David Connolly, McCarthy had sought to recruit Goodman whose credentials to play for Ireland have now, apparently, been established.

"I'm not sure which of us was the more disappointed, him or me," said McCarthy. "It was a good chance for Jon to come and join us and be part of the squad.

"It would have been nice to have him around as cover but with four forwards still left in the squad, I think we'll make out fine."

It is the second setback for the Wimbledon player who was called into the squad for the opening World Cup game in Liechtenstein and then forced to pull out after failing to prove his Irish qualifications.

McCarthy will wait until after this afternoon's training sessional at Clonshaugh before deciding if he will send for replacements, but all the indications are that he will make do with the 18 already selected.

One of these is Tony Cascarino who is not due to travel to Dublin until tomorrow morning after playing for Marseilles in a French championship game this evening.

Among the first arrivals at the team's headquarters yesterday was Roy Keane who has been absent from the national squad since the 1-0 defeat by Russia last March. Keane joined his club mate Den is Irwin on a flight from Manchester and confirmed that he has no fitness problems.

Brian Launders, who recently moved from Crystal Palace to Crewe Alexandra, has been called into the squad for the European under 21 championship game against Iceland at Dalymount Park next Saturday. It follows the earlier defection of David Connolly and Bournemouth's Owen Coll.