Withdrawals likely to limit McCarthy

ALTHOUGH many, if not quite all of Mick McCarthy's inaugural 23 man squad as Republic of Ireland manager may rendezvous in Dublin next week for the friendly with Russia, the new manager's playing options are likely to be diminished, by some withdrawals over the weekend.

Manchester United's Dennis Irwin, and to a lesser extent Liverpool's Phil Babb, are probable casualties of a typically hectic, two games a week run in to the English season, incorporating the English League Cup final next Sunday and the FA Cup semi finals seven days later. The proximity of those games, with up to nine of his squad involved in them, does not augur well for the strength of McCarthy's squad.

Irwin strained a hamstring in the draw at QPR last Saturday, when he also had the misfortune to score an own goal, and was then ruled out for the 1-0 league win over Arsenal at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

The prognosis for a recall to the United team for the Sunday afternoon game against Spurs is not encouraging, in which case his availability next Wednesday would be highly unlikely. A club source merely said. "It doesn't look good for him, as he's almost certainly out of the game on Sunday."

Babb missed his club's league win over Chelsea last Saturday and their FA Cup quarter final replay win over Leeds at Anfield on Wednesday night with a toe injury.

"It's not even a sprain. It's a damaged joint in my big toe. It's not serious, but the pain is quite severe. We're going to try and do a bit of training tomorrow. I've done some light work, but I've not been out jogging yet.

In the circumstances therefore, Babb's availability for tomorrow's game at Nottingham Forest would appear to be in jeopardy in which case it is very unlikely that Roy Evans would want the Irish centre half to be risked against Russia four days before their FA Cup semi final meeting with Aston Villa.

But Babb regards such speculation as "premature", adding. "It's getting better all the time. I'm getting constant treatment. It's in the lap of the gods really, but it's looking more positive than it has done over the last couple of days."

Babb accepts that some club managers might interpret the Russian game as a conflict of interests for their Irish players next week and hence with draw them.

"That's down to the manager's discretion. Obviously, after Wednesday, we've got an important game at the weekend and if there were injuries to any players, from a Liverpool point of view, it is our biggest game of the season. So I don't know. It's up to the manager. Obviously we want to play for our country. That's what it's all about."

Another minor irritant for McCarthy will be Liam Daish's inability to link up with the Irish squad until Tuesday, due to Coventry's game against Southampton on Monday night.

One player itching for a few games in the next week, preferably starting with the English League Cup final at Wembley, is Steve Staunton. He returned to the Aston Villa side for last Tuesday night's scoreless draw at home to Middlesbrough, and now must await to see which three centre halves Brian Little opts for against Leeds out of the five available to him, with Paul McGrath's place also in doubt.

"I knew I could run okay. It was just a question of testing, the injury in terms of kicking a ball. That's no problem. It's now down to the manager. I'm fit and available for selection, and I'll be in Dublin on Monday."

Surenely oblivious to any speculation regarding withdrawals from his squad, McCarthy said yesterday. "If needs be there's plenty of players around I can call in. It might be that I have to tap off the under 21 squad. I'm not envisaging any problems, and if there are then we'll cover them."

McCarthy arrives in Dublin tomorrow for the launch of his testimonial, and will conduct a training session on Sunday afternoon prior to Monday's session behind closed doors and Tuesday's final run out at Lansdowne Road.