Sousa out of game against Ireland

Already missing the trio of Euro 2000 stars who were suspended for their protests at the end of the semi-final against France, it was confirmed yesterday when he named his squad that injuries have deprived Portuguese manager Antonio Oliveira of two more prominent players ahead of his side's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and the Netherlands.

Influential midfielder Paulo Sousa and the man who scored the injury-time winner in the group game against Romania, Francisco Da Costa ("Costinha"), are both ruled out of both games, further narrowing the recently returned international coach's options.

Their absence and the loss of Nuno Gomes, Abel Xavier and Paulo Bento, who have received UEFA bans of between six and nine months, will again prevent Oliveira, who was also the Portuguese boss when Ireland last visited the country at the end of the Euro '96 campaign, from selecting his strongest possible side next week.

The former Porto and Real Betis boss still has an impressive line up of talent to call on, though, with the likes of Fernando Couto of Lazio, Sporting Lisbon's Joao Pinto and the world's most expensive player - Real Madrid's Luis Figo - all included in the 22 man panel.

Oliveira has dropped Porto defender Fernando Nelson from the squad after replacing him in last month's 3-1 win in Estonia but, Sousa aside, the rest of the men watched by Irish coach Mick McCarthy have been recalled for tomorrow week's game in Lisbon.

In contention for a place in the international side, meanwhile, after missing the trip to Talinn is versatile right-sided midfielder Sergio Conceicao, the 25-year-old who played his way into the starting lineup with a hat-trick against the Germans. The Parma player is recalled along with Porto's Carlos Secretario, Bino Macaes of Sporting and Boavista's Rui Bento. Conceicao's return could allow Oliveira to employ Figo as an out and out striker as his predecessor, Humberto Coelho, did on a couple of occasions during the summer.

PORTUGAL SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Pedro Espinha (Porto), Joaquim Silva 'Quim' (Braga); Defenders: Jorge Costa (Porto), Rui Jorge (Sporting), Fernando Couto (Lazio), Dimas Teixeira (Sporting), Roberto Severo "Beto" (Sporting), Carlos Secretario (Porto); Midfielders: Sergio Conceicao (Parma), Jose Vidigal (Napoli), Luis Figo (Real Madrid), Rui Costa (Fiorentina), Simao Sabrosa (Barcelona), Fernando Meira (Benfica), Bino Macaes (Sporting), Rui Bento (Boavista); Forwards: Joao Pinto (Sporting), Ricardo Sa Pinto (Sporting), Pedro Resendes 'Pauleta' (Bordeaux) Nuno Capucho (Porto).