Brian Kerr yesterday named a strong squad for the opening two games of Ireland's forthcoming World Cup campaign but there remained doubts last night as to whether either Robbie Keane or Clinton Morrison would be available for the fixtures.
The Ireland manager named a squad of 24 for the games against Cyprus and Switzerland but the ankle and knee problems currently afflicting his two first-choice strikers could yet reduce that number to 22 while Matt Holland is also a major doubt for both matches.
The Irish play Cyprus at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week before returning to Basel for the game against Switzerland the following Wednesday.
A strong showing in the games is vital if the team is to avoid a repeat of the last qualifying campaign when the Republic was playing catch up from early on in the wake of opening defeats by the Russians and Swiss.
Keane's race to recover from an ankle-ligament injury sustained during a pre-season friendly against Rangers is Kerr's most pressing concern.
The Tottenham striker has resumed training and the Ireland boss suggested yesterday that he expects him to be fit for the games but in the event that he fails to play some part in his club's premiership matches against West Brom tonight or Birmingham City at the weekend there could be problems either because he is not quite ready, particularly for the meeting with the Cypriots, or because the management at White Hart Lane object to releasing him.
If the club refuse permission for him to travel the FAI would be entitled to have the player's fitness assessed by one of its own doctors.
The prospect of such a situation arising did appear to ease somewhat on Monday, however, when club officials suggested that the striker would probably be included in the panel for the West Brom game.
Despite the lingering potential for difficulties to arise, Kerr remained upbeat about the situation yesterday. "I was aware that Robbie was making good progress after talking to Chris Hughton and Robbie himself so hopefully he gets some games in during the next week and is ready for us."
Morrison's position seems even less clear after Kerr admitted he had been surprised by the striker's omission from the Birmingham City squad for last weekend's game.
"He picked up a knock in our game against Bulgaria but was okay and played on," he said.
"We thought he was okay but now we've just got to hope that he recovers from the injury quickly enough to be able to join up with us next week."
Though also included in the squad for the moment, Matt Holland looks the most unlikely of all to be involved in either game with Kerr observing that he is only about to resume light running after damaging ankle ligaments in Charlton's first league game of the season.
"He injured himself very late on, meaning that he has had far less time to recover," said Kerr.
"But," he added, "we're hopeful that he can be back soon. He's on the road to recovery."
Back into the Irish panel after missing the final four friendlies of last season is Rory Delap, who will provide the manager with additional options but is highly unlikely to feature in the starting line-up for either match.
Alan Quinn, Alan Maybury and Graham Kavanagh, meanwhile, all retain their places.
Andy O'Brien is also included in the panel after recovering from the bout of conjunctivitis that ruled him out of the Bulgaria match.
The Newcastle centre half is now fully fit and would appear to be the favourite to partner Kenny Cunningham in the centre of the Irish defence.
With the Spanish season yet to get under way there is no Ian Harte, while Richard Dunne is omitted once again.
FULL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Shay Given (Newcastle United) Born: 20/4/76 Caps: 61
Nick Colgan (Barnsley) Born: 19/9/73 Caps: 8
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United) Born: 17/5/78 Caps: 3
DEFENDERS
Steve Finnan (Liverpool) Born: 20/4/76 Caps: 29 Goals: 1
Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham) Born: 28/6/71 Caps: 58 Goals: 0
Andy O’Brien (Newcastle United) Born: 29/6/79 Caps: 13 Goals: 0
Alan Maybury (Hearts) Born: 8/8/78 Caps: 8 Goals: 0
John O’Shea (Manchester United) Born: 30/4/81 Caps: 15 Goals: 1
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United) Born: 29/8/76 Caps: 31 Goals: 0
Gary Doherty (Norwich City) Born: 31/1/80 Caps: 27 Goals: 4
Gary Breen (Sunderland) Born: 12/12/73 Caps: 61 Goals: 7
MIDFIELDERS
Liam Miller (Manchester United) Born: 13/2/81 Caps: 5 Goals: 0
Alan Quinn (Sheffield United) Born: 13/6/79 Caps: 5 Goals: 0
Roy Keane (Manchester United) Born: 10/08/71 Caps: 60 Goals: 9
Matt Holland (Charlton Athletic) Born: 11/4/74 Caps: 43 Goals: 5
Graham Kavanagh (Cardiff City) Born: 2/12/73 Caps: 6 Goals: 1
Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest) Born: 29/7/82 Caps: 8 Goals: 1
Kevin Kilbane (Everton) Born: 1/2/77 Caps: 54 Goals: 4
Rory Delap (Southampton) Born: 6/7/76 Caps: 11 Goals: 0
Damien Duff (Chelsea) Born: 2/3/79 Caps: 44 Goals: 6
STRIKERS
Alan Lee (Cardiff City) Born: 21/8/78 Caps: 7 Goals: 0
Clinton Morrison (Birmingham) Born: 14/5/79 Caps: 22 Goals: 5
David Connolly (Leicester City) Born: 6/6/77 Caps: 40 Goals: 9
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur) Born: 8/7/80 Caps: 51 Goals: 20
