Tottenham Hotspur defender Stephen Carr looks certain to miss the friendly game against Denmark and could be a serious doubt for next month's World Cup qualifiers in Nicosia and Barcelona after breaking down in training on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old full back had missed seven first team games for his London club with an abdominal injury before coming on with 30 minutes remaining of the weekend's match against Charlton.
But Wednesday's recurrence of the problem has thrown the remainder of the season into doubt for the Drogheda-born full back. Spurs manager George Graham admitted yesterday: "We don't know how long he'll be out for, but I hope he doesn't need an operation".
With Gary Kelly expected to be out due to a hernia until the middle of next month, McCarthy will have to cope without either of his first choice right backs for the Denmark game and, possibly, for the next two qualifiers too.
Steve Finnan, who regularly plays in the position at Fulham, might well be the one to fill the gap at Lansdowne Road, although the Ireland coach also has the option of starting Kenny Cunningham or Richard Dunne there. Curtis Fleming or Andy O'Brien may also be called in to fill the vacancy created.
Meanwhile, the first official meeting between representatives of the Government and the FAI is scheduled for this day week, when the Taoiseach and the Minister for Sport are likely to deal face to face with the association's negotiating team.
No venue has been confirmed for a meeting at which the sides will outline their positions regarding the two proposed stadiums. More detailed work is likely to be completed after the appointment of independent outside advisers by the FAI, which is expected to happen over the coming weeks.
Tickets for next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea went on sale yesterday when supporters from around the world were given the opportunity to register their application to book their place at the tournament.
Under the new scheme, would-be buyers must apply before the end of April, when a lottery will be held to decide how the available tickets are divided up.
Part of the new distribution system allows for supporters of particular countries to make provisional reservations; supporters of those nations whose teams actually do make it to the finals then get the tickets booked and the others get their money, minus an administration fee, back.
Two types of tickets have been created under the scheme: one guarantees a ticket to every game their team plays in, and the other allows the supporter to keep buying tickets all the way to the final regardless of when his or her team is eliminated.
Details are available from FIFAworldcup.com or from the 2002 FIFA World Cup Ticketing Bureau at PO Box 2002, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7RR, England (Ph/Fax: 0044 870 123 2002/124 2002).
