Concerned Kelly may quit Leeds

Republic of Ireland defender Gary Kelly has hinted that he may have to leave Leeds United over the coming months if he is to hold on to his place in Mick McCarthy's squad for next summer's World Cup finals.

The 27-year-old right back insisted he had no complaints about his current situation at Elland Road, with the Irishman having initially lost his place in David O'Leary's side through injury.

But, he observed: "I know that if I'm not playing I won't go to the World Cup finals and so I can't afford to be on the bench. It doesn't take a clever man to work it out. I need first team football."

Kelly acknowledged that his affection for the club, as well as the fact that he is due to receive a testimonial there next season, would make it hard to leave but, he said, "I'm not here for the money, I'm here to play football and going to a second World Cup means an awful lot to me."

In recent weeks Kelly has actually been back in the Leeds first team, but the expected return from injury of Dominic Matteo for this weekend's game against Blackburn may mean he is again omitted from the first team.

Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, has described some of the reaction to Ireland's draw for next year's finals as "ridiculous", although he says himself that he is confident that the team can qualify for the second phase of the competition.

"Suddenly people are putting us in the quarter-finals," said McCarthy, who was making up for missing Thursday's Philips Manager of the Year Awards by paying a visit to the sponsors' offices in Dublin yesterday.

"This is Cameroon's fifth World Cup, though, and the Saudis' third, so it's going to be very tough, although I am confident that we can go through the group to reach the second round."

Cameroon's German manager, Winfried Schafer, has told one of the country's leading daily papers that he is determined to "break the curse of Germany's reputation at the World Cup".

The 51-year-old said: "Cameroon are in a good group and has the opportunity to go a long way in this World Cup. I want Cameroon to top the group at all costs."

World Cup countdown: Page 6