FIFA turn down FAI request for Healy

The bid to bring out Celtic's Colin Healy as a replacement for Roy Keane has failed after FIFA turned down a request from the…

The bid to bring out Celtic's Colin Healy as a replacement for Roy Keane has failed after FIFA turned down a request from the FAI on grounds of 'exceptional circumstances'.

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There is no point in knocking our heads against a brick wall, we need to get on with it and look forward
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FAI’s Brendan Menton

Brendan Menton, general secretary of the FAI, said: "We made a case for exceptional circumstances - rather than on medical grounds - but we weren't confident we would win it, and that has turned out to be the case.

"We have a squad of 22 players and Mick is happy to work with that. There is no point in knocking our heads against a brick wall, we need to get on with it and look forward.

Charlton's Mark Kinsella trained as normal having sat out yesterday to rest his knee and is set to start against Cameroon on Saturday.

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"Kins is fine," said McCarthy. "He trained today with no problems. He rested his knee yesterday and anybody at this stage who wants to just take it easy and be right for the game can do so.

"Ian Harte had a blister on his heel so he didn't take part in the five-a-side, but they have all done the work, the game now is the important thing.

"Jason McAteer trained today and I hope he is going to be okay. We'll see how his knee reacts to doing the full training session, but he got through it okay. It is still a little tender but you'd expect that with the tackle he received and the nature of the injury," McCarthy said.

PA