These are difficult days for Mick McCarthy and the proof was everywhere in evidence as he reviewed his depleted squad for the forthcoming games against Scotland, Mexico, the US and South Africa.

With six established players ruled out of his original squad, and serious doubts concerning the availability of two more, Kenny Cunningham and Rory Delap, he now discovers that he may have to go without the Sunderland central defender Paul Butler.

Butler, who wasn't fit enough to enter the equation for last Sunday's testimonial game against Liverpool at Lansdowne Road, has returned home for treatment on a sore Achilles tendon.

"We won't know for a couple of days how serious the injury is, but at this point he is struggling to make the first game against Scotland next Tuesday," said McCarthy.

"The news from Kenny and Rory hasn't changed much. They are working hard to get themselves ready, but it's a race against time. Hopefully, we'll have a clearer picture of their progress by the weekend."

The manager is much more upbeat about the prospect of Gary Breen and Richard Dunne recovering from knocks sustained against Liverpool. In each instance, the damage is thought to be superficial.

With Gary Kelly, Ian Harte and now Cunningham injured, McCarthy finds himself dangerously short of cover at full back. And, as he discovered at the weekend, Curtis Fleming is not in a position to help him out.

Fleming, troubled at recurring intervals by a knee problem, has been told to rest for the summer in the hope that he will be able to restart pre-season training on schedule at Middlesbrough.

So now the spotlight is turning on Terry Phelan. It is three years since Phelan last appeared in an Ireland shirt, but after a satisfactory finish to the season at Fulham, he could now find himself in demand once more.

Dominic Foley of Watford has already been summoned to fill the vacancy caused by Graham Kavanagh's impending operation, but the option of withdrawing Barry Quinn and Gary Doherty from the under-21 squad headed for Toulon is unlikely to be taken up by McCarthy.

Romario could make his comeback for Brazil tonight in front of 72,500 Welsh fans. Veteran striker Romario, world footballer of the year in 1994, has been recalled for the friendlies against Wales at the Millennium stadium and England at Wembley on Saturday and is expected to play if he passes a fitness test.