MICK McCARTHY appealed yesterday for a curtain to be drawn on the Roy Keane affair which continues to cloud his preparations for the Republic of Ireland's end of season programme.

With Keane still unable to be contacted at his home in the Manchester suburb of Bowden, McCarthy refused to be drawn into discussion on the likely repercussions of the player.

"People should realise that we've an important job of work on here and we'd like to be able to concentrate on the positive rather than the negative side of things," he said.

"At stake is the redevelopment of the squad and the long term turnabout of players. And that's far more important than any individual in it.

"Far too much has been said and written about Roy's absence. There have been outlandish headlines in the press, statements attributed to me which I never said. And that's unfair to everybody - not least the players who have turned up and are working so hard on their game.

"From where I stand, there is no more to be said for the present about Roy Keane. I just want to get on with the business of preparing a team for some very important games over the next fortnight".

McCarthy, who has taken his squad to Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, to prepare for tomorrow's meeting with Croatia at Lansdowne Road, also alluded to Ireland's failure to qualify for the European championship finals in England.

I'm sorry that Jack Charlton was denied the opportunity of taking the team to the finals and I understand the disappointment of the people in the country over the fact we will not be there.

"But if there is a silver lining, it is that the break from competitive football has given us an opportunity to try players who might otherwise be still standing on the sideline.

"At some point, somebody was going to have to rebuild the squad and introduce new players. Better that should happen now than two years down the line.

"I don't like losing games - never have. But I was absolutely delighted walking out of Lansdowne Road last Wednesday with the way the younger lads performed against Portugal. I set out my stall last month to find young players of the required standard. And after just one game, I think I'm well on the way to achieving it."

On his philosophy of playing the ball out of defence, he said: "I'm a realist and if I thought I could win the World Cup by playing unattractive football, I'd do it".

"But I like to think that I can make Ireland a better footballing side - and still win games. I like to think that we can play the kind of football that most of our opposition play - and still come out on top in the end.

"Have no doubts, there are a lot of good young kids around and if we work hard enough and get lucky enough, I feel we can build a good team".

McCarthy waits until this afternoon to name his team for the Croatian game but with Alan Kelly returned to his home in Sheffield because of a recurrence of a back injury, Shay Given is certain to make his fourth appearance in goal.

It caps a remarkable period for Given who earlier in the week was offered a new three year contract by Blackburn Rovers. Ray Harford, the Blackburn manager, had previously rejected a £3 million offer by Sunderland for the 20 year old Irishman, who made a substantial contribution to their First Division championship success after going on loan to the Roker Park club midway through the season.

Celtic, who rejected Given when he went on trial there as a schoolboy, are also thought to be interested in the player who, even before the extent of Kelly's injury became known, was named in the side for the Portuguese match.

As yet, he still hasn't responded to Blackburn's new offer and before doing so, he will ponder the chances of working his way into the first team ahead of the England goalkeeper, Tim Flowers.

Given, who still has a year of his old contract to run, acknowledges that a prolonged spell in reserve team football will do nothing to enhance his international career and to that extent, is likely to need some assurances from Harford.