Moore is likely to withdraw from squad

A difficult year for Middlesbrough midfield player, Alan Moore, is set to continue today with his withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad for next Wednesday's World Cup qualifying game against Lithuania.

Moore is expected to be pulled out of Ireland's squad of 20 by his club manager, Bryan Robson, because of a calf muscle injury sustained in training this week.

"He informed me that his calf was very sore and that that he intended to talk the matter over with Bryan Robson," said Mick McCarthy. "He had fitness problems on a number of occasions last season and it's very disappointing for him that he should start off the new season like this.

"As of now, I have no plans to replace him if he does call off, for there are a lot of options available to us in midfield. But in the unlikely event of the situation deteriorating, we would then, of course, look again at the situation."

For Moore, elevated to senior international status by McCarthy in only his second game in charge of the team (against the Czech Republic at Prague in April of last year), it fits the pattern of the most trying period of his career.

With Ireland embarked on something of a renaissance and Middlesbrough's foreign legionnaires establishing the club at the centre of the action in England, it ought to have been a very rewarding period for the Dubliner.

Instead, one disappointment superceded another in the second half of the season, when he was forced out of the World Cup games against Romania and Liechtenstein before suffering the crowning blow in being ruled unfit for the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.

McCarthy is faced with the prospect of a second setback after Keith Branagan, his reserve goalkeeper, has undergone a test at the squad's Dublin base. A bruised elbow is giving cause for concern and if he doesn't succeed in proving his fitness beyond reasonable doubt, he may be on his way back to Bolton this evening.

That would be a major disappointment for the player who won `B' honours against England at Anfield two years ago before gaining his first senior cap at Cardiff in February. But it could open the door, if only slightly, for Gary Kelly to end his long wait for a senior cap.

Honoured at every level except senior, he would be required primarily as cover for Shay Given. That's an assignment he has filled on several occasions in the past without ever getting on but it hasn't deflected him in his great ambition of following his father and younger brother into the national team.

Gary Breen, the Coventry defender, was given permission by the Irish manager to stay behind at his club for further treatment on a bruised ankle but in this instance, the possibility of his having to withdraw is regarded as slight.

The majority of the Irish players arrived on Thursday evening and reported to Clonshaugh yesterday for a training session which the manager described as informative. Another session is planned for the same venue this morning before the squad moves to Kilkee Castle near Athy tomorrow.

McCarthy, who watched Lithuania in action against Iceland earlier in the Group Eight qualifying programme, is expecting a challenge not wholly dissimilar from that which produced so many problems for his team against Iceland at Lansdowne Road last November.

"Like the Icelanders, they are big and strong and that is likely to make for another hard game for us," he said. "We didn't handle the situation too well against Iceland but this time hopefully, we'll profit from that experience.

"To break down a team which is content to contain, the passing must be better, crosses must be delivered more accurately and above all, there must be greater movement up front.

"Having said all that, I must state that the Lithuanians surprised me by the positive approach they adopted against Iceland. They're capable of going about the job the same way in Dublin but frankly, I'll be surprised if they do so."

With ample opportunity to indulge his imagination and most of his established players still available to him, McCarthy admits that he knows precisely the team he wants to field. But he is still likely to wait until Tuesday at the earliest before going public with those thoughts.

Irish internationals were on the mark in the English first division last night although they enjoyed mixed fortunes.

Keith O'Neill opened the scoring for Norwich City against Nottingham Forest but his side took a 4-1 hiding, David Kelly scored for Tranmere Rovers in their 2-1 home win over Queens Park rangers and Niall Quinn sharpened his goal-scoring skills in Sunderland's 3-1 victory over Manchester City with a well-taken goal, the first in Sunderland's new Stadium of Light.

Quinn and O'Neill are in the Ireland squad for Wednesday's match against Lithuania. O'Neill injured his mouth in a clash with Forest's Steve Stone who sustained a broken nose.