GARY KELLY was yesterday contemplating one of life's truisms that when you're down on your luck, nothing ever goes right, on the third day of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup preparations in Carrickmacross.
The calf which Kelly has awaited ever since Mick McCarthy came to power, was about to be put through to his home in Leeds, calling him up as a replacement for Steve Staunton for Sunday's game.
Then, almost by chance, it was discovered that the player was, in fact, just 30 miles down the road at the family residence in Drogheda, after being ordered back to Ireland to rest by the Leeds United manager, George Graham.
So, instead of donning an Ireland tracksuit for the first time since the European Championship play off against Holland at Anfield last December, Kelly must content himself with a spectating role at Lansdowne Road where his nephew, Ian Harte will be one of the players in contention for the vacancy in defence.
"Its just another bad break for Gary for I was on the point of making the phone call when Mick Byrne happened to mention that the player had been told to rest up by George Graham," said McCarthy.
"There was a time when he was first choice in his position but the pecking order has changed a bit since then.
"Jason McAteer is now the best player we have for that role and Jeff Kenna played ever so well there during the American tour in America.
"I remember a chat I had with Howard Wilkinson during the summer and how we both agreed that apart from his injury problems, Gary was burnt out after three years of non stop football.
"By calling him into the squad, I thought I would give him a bit of a lift but, unfortunately, it wasn't to be."
Kelly has been the most notable casualty in the change of managership in the Ireland camp but that, as McCarthy correctly points out, is down in the first instance to his decline in form.
By insisting on the player taking a break at a time when the club is not involved in the FA Premiership, Graham hopes to recharge the running power which once established the Irishman as the best right back in Britain.
Phil Babb was again excused from the serious work in training yesterday because of a knee injury but the expectation is that he will participate in this afternoon's session, which will again be staged behind locked gates at Oriel Park.
No less than Gary Kelly, Babb's fortunes have plummeted over the last year but significantly, McCarthy took time out to point to the improved level of his performances in recent weeks.
"I have watched him on a couple of occasions and he played brilliantly, particularly in Liverpool's game against Manchester United," he said. "In the past, perhaps, he didn't get involved as much as he should but then he was playing a different system.
"Now he looks very comfortable on the ball and yes, I have to say that I've been impressed by what I've seen of him of late."
Inevitably, the question of Roy Keane's impending reappearance and his precise role in the team, continues to dominate discussion in the approach to Sunday's game. And the manager concedes that irrespective of what he does, he risks criticism.
"Roy is a fine player, one of the best we have and if I don't play him, people will want to know why. If on the other hand, I put him in the team and the performance suffers, my head will still be on the chopping block."
McCarthy said that arrangements for a fixture in February, as part of the build up to the resumption of the World Cup programme in April, are still only in the process of being finalised. He also expressed the hope that it will be possible to play a "B" international game in the near future.
Stressing that it would fill a significant void in the calendar, he named Dave Savage, Mark Kinsella, Shay Given, David Connolly and Mark Kennedy as players who could benefit from the fixture.
