France v Republic of Ireland countdown: Roy Keane, Damien Duff, John O'Shea and Shay Given were among the players to sit out the Irish squad's first training session of the week at Malahide yesterday afternoon but Brian Kerr insisted afterwards that he expects all to have a run-out before the team leaves for Paris tomorrow morning.
The one real doubt for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against France appears at this stage to be Manchester City defender Richard Dunne, who picked up a calf injury in last weekend's game against Southampton and was, as a result, one of three players sent to Cappagh Hospital yesterday for scans.
"Alan Quinn, Graham Barrett and Richard Dunne all went for precautionary MRI scans as a result of knocks that they received at the weekend," said Kerr, in a statement issued through the FAI last night. "Quinn and Barrett were clear but Dunne showed some damage to the calf."
The manager made it clear, however, that as things stand Dunne and all 23 of the other players called up by him last week are expected to travel and be available for selection on Saturday evening.
There was nevertheless some minor concern at Malahide yesterday when a group of the squad's more established stars were rested. With Keane, Duff and Given taking no part in the session.
"John O'Shea, Damien Duff, Roy Keane, Shay Given and Gary Breen did not train today," confirmed Kerr, who went on to insist that "they are all expected to take a full part tomorrow (today)."
The fact that four of his first-choice players for the weekend require even rest may be less than ideal five days ahead of what is one of Ireland's key qualifying games of the current campaign.
However, Kerr's good fortune in having everyone of his panel available at this point is in stark contrast to that of his opposite number, Raymond Domenech.
The French manager has encountered a succession of problems since being appointed in the summer and will be missing both Patrick Vieira and David Trezeguet on Saturday due to suspension and injury respectively.
It is also at odds with Kerr's own experience during the build-up to the more important earlier matches of his reign, most recently the outings against Cyprus and Switzerland last month when O'Shea, Matt Holland and Roy Keane were forced to withdraw from the squad prior to the Manchester United midfielder's subsequent return for the game in Basel.
Having come on for Charlton at the weekend and trained yesterday, Holland now appears to be firmly back in contention for a place in Ireland's midfield on Saturday evening, although quite where he might fit into the team remains open to question
On the face of it he is most likely to challenge Kevin Kilbane for the second central birth alongside Roy Keane, although Kerr hinted last week that with O'Shea having prospered in that position at club level recently he might be tempted to play the Waterford man there too.
Holland, however, could also figure on the right side of the Republic's midfield as he did against Brazil at the start of the year.
Kerr may choose that option should he want to adopt a more defensive approach than in Basel, where Andy Reid retained his place on the right after a fine display against Cyprus back at Lansdowne Road.
Dunne, meanwhile, is on the verge of being offered a new contract by the Manchester City manager, Kevin Keegan, who yesterday singled the defender out for considerable praise for his performances during the early weeks of the new premiership season.
"He has reinvented himself," said the City boss, "got his life back together and is on course for a new deal. I take my hat off to him. Only 18 months ago he was out there trying to battle a lot of things but it appears he has won.
"We had an agreement that if he started this season like he ended the last one then we would sit down and talk in January. At the moment he is certainly on course for a new contract because he has become a very important player for us."
Confirmation of the new deal would complete a remarkable reversal in the fortunes of 25-year-old Dunne, who having had problems during his time at Everton over his behaviour, came close to being sacked by City for what was described at the time as a "serious breach of club discipline".
France v Rep of Ireland
Venue: Stade de France
Kick-off: 8 pm, Saturday
On TV: RTÉ 2, BBC 2
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