Robbie Keane is scheduled to arrive in Dublin from Coventry this morning amid growing uncertainty about his availability for next Saturday's Euro 2000 clash with Macedonia at Skopje.
Keane, central to Ireland's hopes of achieving the win needed to keep them on course for a place in the finals, is described by Coventry manager, Gordon Strachan as doubtful for the game, after aggravating an ankle injury in the 11 draw with Everton.
"I know only what I've been told but in the sense that Coventry haven't been on so far to withdraw him from our squad, I'm still hopeful," said Mick McCarthy.
"Robbie is a very dedicated young player who will play with us in Macedonia if it is at all possible. But we won't really know that until we've had updated medical reports."
Keane took the injury into Saturday's game but Strachan is making no apologies for playing him. "We pay his wages and my loyalties are to Coventry City, not Ireland," he said. "He was upset because he wanted to travel to Dublin immediately after the game but from our point of view, it was important that he was medically examined here and treated accordingly."
The other disturbing news for McCarthy yesterday concerned Lee Carsley, the Blackburn midfield player who is expected to fill the anchor game vacated by Roy Keane, for the game in Macedonia.
Carsley went to hospital for an X-ray yesterday morning after bruising foot in the scoreless draw with QPR on Saturday. No additional information on the injury was available last evening but like Keane, he is expected to arrive in Dublin this morning.
"Apart from notifying me that Lee had a problem with his foot, there has been no further contact with the club," said McCarthy. "But with five days still to go to the game, I'm hopeful."
The Ireland manager had more encouraging news over the weekend of his veteran striker Tony Cascarino, who is again expected to provide the cover for Niall Quinn at Skopje.
Cascarino scored all three goals in AS Nancy's 3-0 win over Rennes in their French first division championship game to boost his seasonal total to six. He converted two penalties before heading a third goal five minutes from the end.
Coincidentally, Quinn was also among the goalscorers on Saturday, as Sunderland continued their good start to the season with a 4-0 success over Bradford.
