JEFF KENNA may miss the Republic of Ireland's European Championship game in Macedonia next month because of an injury sustained in Blackburn's FA Cup defeat in midweek.

Ruling the player out of today's FA Premiership game at West Ham, Blackburn's manager Brian Kidd said that he could be sidelined for several weeks.

"The calf muscle injury which Jeff picked up in the game against Newcastle, is more serious than we first thought and he could be sidelined for some time," he said.

"The injury comes at a bad time for us, for with a number of players already under treatment, it reduces our options at the back still further."

In the event of all his established players reporting for work in Skopje, Mick McCarthy was unlikely to include Kenna in his starting line up. Yet he will rue the loss of a player who provides acceptable cover in at least two positions.

No position in the team offers the Ireland manager more alternatives than right back but with Gary Kelly already ruled out for the season, he will be hoping that Dennis Irwin and to a lesser extent, Steve Carr, continue to stay fit.

It was confirmed by the FAI yesterday that the kick off for the European game at Skopje on March 27th, has now been set for 7.00 p.m.(Irish time).