AS anticipated, Roy Keane is back in the Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein on August 31st. But the news wasn't so good for Jack Charlton regulars John Sheridan, Tommy Coyne and Eddie McGoldrick who were excluded from the 33 man panel.

Keane returns despite his non appearance for the American tour and much of yesterday's press conference, at which McCarthy outlined his plans for the game, was devoted to the circumstances of Keane's return.

McCarthy met Keane at the London headquarters of Manchester United before last Sunday's Charity Shield match against Newcastle United, but the Irish manager would not say which party initiated it.

He also declined to say if Keane had explained the reasons for his decision to turn down the captaincy of the team in America without so much as the courtesy of a phone call to the manager.

"The whys and the wherefores are personal to him and me" he said. "We had a good meeting, it was frank, he had his opinions and I had mine. He accepted that he was wrong and apologise for it. All he wants to do now is to play for his country and show people that he wants to play for his country.

"The whole incident got too much air play in the summer, but it's now history. I'm glad that we have resolved the matter and look forward to having Roy with us during the World Cup campaign."

Sheridan, Coyne and McGoldrick became the first casualties of Ireland's new management team after they failed to find places in an enlarged squad of 33 and, while Mick McCarthy stopped short of dismissing them from his plans, it looks as if their international careers are now over.

Sheridan, the playmaker in Jack Charlton's team during the latter part of his term, has been an established member of the side for the last six years.

Significantly, he was not named in the squad for the eight warm up games in which McCarthy has taken charge and when the new manager sought to avail of his experience for the trip to Prague he was unavailable.

McGoldrick, once regarded as the utility man in Charlton's squad, has been in sharp decline for some time and last season made only one first team appearance as a substitute for Arsenal.

However, Coyne has played for Ireland under McCarthy, coming on as a replacement in the game against Russia at Lansdowne Road last March. But, after a season fragmented by injuries, he, too, must have been aware that his international career was at risk.

Coupled with the earlier departure of Packie Bonner, it marks the start of the break up of the squad which served Charlton so well.

Now with Kelly fully fit again and Shay Given and Keith Branagan named as the other two in the squad, it looks.

The fact that McCarthy could dispense with such experience reflects the growing depth in the squad which Wimbledon striker, Jon Goodman, born in London of Irish ancestry, is the only newcomer.

While keeping faith with the majority of the old brigade, McCarthy has not lost sight of the impact made by the younger players during the end of season programme.

In addition to Given, Gary Breen, Alan Moore, Dave Savage, David Connolly and Keith O'Neill are also included, although it remains to be seen how many of them make the cut when the squad is reduced to 20 in a fortnight's time.

Even before the competitive season in England begins, there are already a number of injury problems. Mark Kennedy is under treatment for a torn Achilles tendon, Jeff Kenna and Ian Harte both required treatment in the summer and Keith O'Neill was carried off after damaging an ankle while playing for Norwich in a pre-season game last Saturday.