Just days before he is scheduled to announce his squad for the Republic of Ireland's two-legged European Championship play-off against Turkey, Mick McCarthy was yesterday in the unusual situation of having no pressing fitness worries.
Considering the first game is still more than a fortnight away, that in itself may be interpreted as no more than a hopeful sign but it marks a welcome change of fortune for the Ireland manager.
Roy Keane's successful rehabilitation at Manchester United is a significant relief to McCarthy. Lee Carsley has also returned to action at Blackburn and Shay Given is once more in the frame for first-team duty at Newcastle. Given, once a regular in McCarthy's team, is back in favour at St James' Park after playing against Derby County last night for his second consecutive game. Before damaging his knee in the build-up to the meeting with Macedonia at Lansdowne Road in June, he had played in 15 of the previous 16 international games. Now, however, he may have to prepare himself for a long stint on the bench.
The new revised scenario is a product of Alan Kelly's excellent response since Given's end of season misfortune. Kelly has reclaimed the position which was his, almost by right, when Packie Bonner retired in 1994.
It was only when a back injury forced Kelly into hospital that Given had the opportunity of reclaiming his place. And no less than Kelly, he ensured that he retained his place by the sheer consistency of his performances.
Now the wheel has come full circle and while McCarthy refuses to elaborate on his team plans at this stage, the certainty is that Kelly will keep his place for the play-off.
McCarthy's primary hope at this stage, of course, is that Roy Keane manages to stay fit and presents himself for action when the squad assembles in Dublin on November 8th. He is sufficiently reassured about his knee problems to commit himself as forcefully as ever.
"I've spoken with him in the last few days and he assures me that he's not had any problems with his knees since coming back," says McCarthy.
Carsley's impending return gives McCarthy the option of using a fifth midfielder in the away game. That will depend on the outcome of the Lansdowne Road match.
The Blackburn player was forced out of the recent Macedonian game because of a foot injury but has since made a satisfactory return to club duty. Jeff Kenna, his club-mate at Ewood Park, made a premature departure from last Saturday's game against Manchester City but will be available if required for the play-off.
Turkish Football Federation officials are expected to confirm today that Bursa rather than Izmir will be the venue for the second leg of the play-off on November 17th.
It means that the squad will now travel to Turkey a day earlier than planned and that in turn has led to the cancellation of the FAI/Opel international awards function, scheduled for the Burlington hotel on November 14th.
