Injuries worries subsiding for Kerr

After a worrying morning things appeared to be brightening up for Brian Kerr last night when a couple of his main injury worries for next week's trip to Nigeria showed definite signs of improvement.

Everton defender Richard Dunne, for one, looked more likely to shake off a hamstring problem incurred a couple of weekends ago yesterday and although a decision on the player's ability to take part in the World Youth Championships will not be made until today at the earliest there was considerably more optimism about his chances in the Irish camp last night.

Ger Crossley, who had injured his left foot in a club game in Glasgow earlier in the week, also looked extremely doubtful for a while yesterday, but X-rays showed that there was only bruising rather than a fracture and team doctor Ronan O'Callaghan is hopeful that the Celtic midfielder will be back in full training by Saturday.

The prospects for Bristol City's Tommy Doherty look less bright just now, however, with his club informing Brian Kerr yesterday that the youngster has a hamstring injury and shouldn't even train for the next two weeks.

If Doherty, who was only called into the squad as a replacement himself, can't travel then James O'Connor of Stoke, George O'Callaghan of Port Vale, Celtic's Colin Healy and Juventus's recent recruit, Ronnie O'Brien, may all come into the reckoning for the vacant slot in the 18-man squad.

Kerr, meanwhile, who had seen proposed friendly games against first Mexico and then Nigeria called off, was also boosted yesterday by the fact that the South Koreans have agreed to play Ireland at their base in Ibadan in the middle of next week.

The game, which will be played on either Wednesday or Thursday, will give Kerr's squad, who only arrive in Nigeria on Monday evening, a chance to gauge how tough it will be to play competitively in the heat and humidity.

The Koreans, who beat Australia 5-1 a few months ago, should also give the Irish an idea of what to expect during the competition which, for the Irish, starts on Sunday week when they take on Mexico. Their other group matches are against Saudi Arabia and Australia on the following Wednesday and Saturday respectively.

Back at home, the postponement of the weekend's international games and the subsequent release of the various under-21 internationals has allowed St Patrick's Athletic and UCD to bring forward their league encounter. The game will now be played at 3.0 on Sunday afternoon instead of Monday evening as had been scheduled.

And Owen Heery of Shelbourne, Bray's Dom Tierney and Eamonn Doherty of Derry City were amongst the players suspended for one game by this week's sitting of the FAI Disciplinary Commission. The suspensions come into force on April 6th.