MICK MCCARTHY will not call up a replacement for Roy Keane following the withdrawal of the Manchester United player from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup game in Liechtenstein on August 31st.

In spite of the loss of Keane, who enters hospital for a knee operation this morning, McCarthy believes he has ample options in midfield.

And that will disappoint John Sheridan, the experienced Sheffield Wednesday player who was among the more notable omissions when the preliminary squad was announced last week.

Sheridan, one of a dwindling number of survivors from the squad which went to Germany for the European championship finals in 1988, has not appeared in the national team since the European championship play off against Holland at Anfield last December.

It coincided with a bleak period for the player at Hillsborough where he was surplus to the requirements of manager David Pleat for almost four months before returning to the team for the closing weeks of the season.

Significantly, he was again relegated to the bench for the start of their Premiership programme against Aston Villa last Saturday but he refuses to accept that his international career is over.

"I'm still only 31 and when you look at the ages of some of the other players in the squad, that's young enough," he said.

"I cannot believe that Mick McCarthy left me out purely on age grounds - the real reason has probably more to do with the fact that I played so little first team football last season after the Holland game.

"That is something that I must put right and it accounts for the delay in agreeing a new contract with the club. I cannot afford to spend another season out of the first team and if Wednesday are unable to find a place for me, then I will start looking elsewhere.

"There have been one or two inquiries but until such time as my position at Hillsborough is sorted out, they'll stay on the backburner. My future in the Ireland team could depend on my next move and I intend to give it very careful consideration."

Alan McLoughlin, seldom more than a fringe player during the Charlton regime, may be in line to start his first competitive game in a fragmented Ireland career stretching back to 1990.

McLoughlin's form during the end of season programme was a revelation and despite Charlton's reservations about his stamina, he now finds himself in a stronger position than at any time in the past to come of age as an international player.

Whether, in fact, he can compensate adequately for the loss of Keane is another matter and having recently settled his differences with the Manchester United player, McCarthy makes no attempt to disguise the sense of loss to the team.

"Our resources don't run to the point where we can readily replace Roy - and that's no reflection on the depth of reserve strength in the squad," says McCarthy.

"He is one of the best players in Britain and even teams like England and Scotland would struggle to replace him when he's going well.

"I think it needs saying again that in spite of all the comment to the contrary, his commitment to the team is one hundred per cent of that I'm certain.

"Playing in Dublin these last couple of years, hasn't been easy for him. He had a brilliant tournament in America in 1994 but success brought adulation and the kind of added pressures he could have done without.

Some footballers can handle the adulation bit. But there are others who prefer to be without it and Roy is probably one of these. He is a very private person who values his privacy but sometimes the media appear to be unaware of this.

"The result is that he hasn't always been projected in the most favourable light but there is no doubt in mind that he values his international career.

Apart from Keane's damaged knee and a torn Achilles tendon which makes Mark Kennedy doubtful, the manager has no injury problems. However, he confesses to concern at the lack of match practice of some members of the squad.

David Kelly, sidelined last season by an ankle injury, returned to Sunderland's team only last Saturday and was replaced in the second half of the game against Leicester City by Niall Quinn.