MICK McCARTHY is reviewing Niall Quinn's fitness after losing three players from his squad for next Wednesday's World Cup game against Group Eight favourites Romania in Bucharest.
In quick succession, McCarthy discovered that Middlesbrough were withdrawing Curtis Fleming and Alan Moore because of injuries and that Norwich's Keith O'Neill was out with a recurrence of ankle trouble.
Of the trio, O'Neill is unquestionably the biggest loss for there was clear evidence that McCarthy was preparing to play him alongside Tony Cascarino up front.
Unfortunately an injury which first surfaced in January, and which restricted his participation in the Macedonian game to just 30 minutes, has flared up again and O'Neill is unlikely to play for the rest of the season.
Nor is that the end of McCarthy's worries. Wimbledon full back Kenny Cunningham could be on his way out of the squad after damaging his back against Chelsea on Tuesday. He is due to visit a specialist today and Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear believes that the injury may require treatment and rest.
On Tuesday night. Andy Townsend was kicked on the leg and replaced by Gareth Farrelly - early in the second half of Aston Villa's game against Leeds United. McCarthy, who was at the game, described the injury as not too serious but he still faces an anxious wait before discovering the full extent of the damage.
None of the four strikers left in the squad - Tony Cascarino, David Kelly, Jon Goodman and David Connolly - has been involved in first team club football on a regular basis in recent weeks and for this reason, McCarthy may be prepared to look again at Quinn's situation.
"Mickey Walsh, the former Ireland striker, watched Niall on my behalf in Sunderland's game against Southampton and while he said that the big man did well, he also noted that he was still not fully match fit," said McCarthy.
"It's an awkward situation. At his best, Niall is a huge asset to the team but at this stage of his come back from a serious injury, he could represent a risk, not least to himself. I will be taking soundings from a number of people, including Sunderland's manager Peter Reid, over the next 24 hours. But with 20 players still left in the squad, I'm still keeping an open mind on the matter."
The Romanian squad announced yesterday includes Just two of the team that met Ireland in the World Cup game in Genoa seven years ago - Gheorghe Hagi, who now plays with Galatasaray in Turkey, and Gheorghe Popescu, of Barcelona.
Fifteen of the 23 players selected by manager Anghel Jordanescu play outside Romania, among them Dan Petrescu of Chelsea, who is one of their most experienced players with 59 appearances to his credit.
Shaun Carey of Norwich City has withdrawn from Ireland's squad for next Tuesday's European Under 21 championship game in Rumania and will be replaced by Anthony Scully.
