Absence of young stars will not upset Kerr's side

His employers may be more worried about the loss of the two biggest stars from the squad for this evening's European Under18 Championship play-off second leg, than Brian Kerr himself.

The presence of Robbie Keane and Damien Duff would, the people in Merrion Square had been hoping, have filled quite a few seats at Tolka Park this evening.

But while the Irish boss admitted to being disappointed with the withdrawals of the two players he pointed to the team's recent record as evidence that he still has plenty of talent at his disposal for tonight's game against the Greeks.

In fact, under Kerr, this team remains unbeaten in eight outings with Keane having appeared on three of those occasions and the Blackburn man just once.

Still, he said, of Duff's case yesterday, "it's very disappointing that Blackburn see fit to pick and choose which international games he can play in," a reference to the fact that the club, while saying that the teenager needs a rest and, possibly, an operation on his groin, have also indicated that he may be fit enough to take part in next week's next week's senior game against Mexico.

"I don't like invoking rules over the release of players, I'd much rather come to understandings with clubs over their players but I thought that I played ball with Blackburn when I allowed him to return to them after the first game in Moldova (where Ireland played two qualifying group games) which makes the current situation all the more disappointing."

Keane's absence, on the other hand, was more readily accepted, with the blame laid squarely, but light-heartedly, at the door of former St Patrick's Athletic player Curtis Fleming, the 18-year-old having picked up an ankle injury in a failed attempt to prevent the Middlesbrough player finding the target with a shot a couple of weeks ago - the goal, as it happens, was disallowed anyway.

There was, however, some good news yesterday with Stephen McPhail of Leeds and Celtic's Ger Crossley both coming through training without any further problems and both are now expected (McPhail's chances are described as 60/40) to figure this evening as they did in Veria six weeks ago.

James Gallagher, the goalkeeper in that 10 win, is out and will be replaced by Alex O'Reilly of West Ham this evening but elsewhere it remains to be seen whether Kerr will opt to tinker with a winning combination.

One possibility is that Ryan Casey of Swansea City, injured for the first leg, will return to action for this game although that is likely to mean the manager having to leave out either Ronnie O'Brien or Richie Partridge up front.

O'Brien scored the winner in the first game and may have the edge over the rising Liverpool star although it will not be certain which two of the three Kerr will go with until he announces his team in the run up to kick-off at 7.30pm.

Elsewhere in the team there is likely to be a familiar look about things with Everton's Richard Dunne and Keith Doyle of St Patrick's Athletic expected to figure in the defence while Barry Quinn of Coventry should retain his place in midfield.

The Greeks, who have achieved a good deal in underage football in recent years, the high point being the semi-finals of the Under16 European Championships two years ago, will certainly still see themselves as being in with a shout of making up for their first leg defeat this evening but not too much is known about how their manager, Andreasa Papaemmanouil, will attempt to improve on his side's performance.

The fact that after the away leg he expressed surprise at the Irish approach - he said that he had expected the long ball and had been somewhat taken aback to discover instead that his team was up against a well organised, skilled and disciplined side - may point towards changes for this game but only one of the starting 11 from that night, defender Anantasios Venetis, has been omitted from the panel for the trip to Dublin.

Certain to figure is Evangelos Nastos who was impressive in a sweeping role for his team in March while the Greeks are expected to look to Georgios Vakouetsis, Ioannis Konstantinidis and Konstantinos Loumpoutis to provide the goals they need to progress to the European finals in Cyprus this July.

Tickets for the game priced £5 for adults and £1 will be available from a caravan at the Drumcondra end of Richmond Road this evening before the game. No cash will be taken on the stiles.