Farrelly loses battle of wounded knee

Gareth Farrelly's hopes of winning a fourth cap for the Republic of Ireland, against Romania at Lansdowne Road next Saturday, were lost yesterday after a knee injury forced him out of the squad.

As yet, however, there is no indication if a similar injury which Andy Townsend sustained when playing for Middlesbrough against Sheffield United on Sunday will necessitate his withdrawal.

Farrelly conceded in his fight for fitness after consulting with Everton's physiotherapist at Goodison Park yesterday morning. There were genuine hopes that he would shrug off the injury, sustained against Barnsley on September 20th. After some early progress, his recovery slowed over the weekend.

It's a bitter blow for the young Dubliner who values his international career so highly that he changed clubs during the close season on the premise that Everton could provide him with more opportunities of first-team football than had been the case at Aston Villa.

That, indeed, proved the case for in the opening two months of the season, he got more first-team duty at Everton than in the previous two years at Villa Park. Mick McCarthy had earlier cited Farrelly's shortage of club football as a contributory factor to his fall from favour last season, but now with that requirement met and replacements needed for some of the 14 players currently on yellow cards, there was every indication that he would get his chance in Saturday's World Cup game.

The player, who made his last full international appearance against Bolivia in New Jersey in June of last year, has since been given the captaincy of the under-21 team, but that doesn't cushion the disappointment of this latest setback.

"I've been playing well since moving to Everton and I was looking forward to the chance of getting a game against Romania," he said. "But looking on the brighter side, it was a bonus to be called into the squad in the first place and if I continue to play well for my club I know there will be other chances."

There is no definitive news yet of Townsend's injury. The midfielder had his knee X-rayed yesterday and hopes to be in a position this morning to reassure McCarthy about his fitness.

"There was a suspicion that he damaged a cartilage on Sunday, but that hasn't been confirmed," said McCarthy. "In a situation in which we have to replace Roy Keane, we could do with Andy's experience in midfield."

The first squad session is scheduled for Clonshaugh this morning when the manager will be awaiting word from Lee Carsley, one of his newer acquisitions. Carsley was in action for Derby County against Leicester City last evening and is due to travel to Dublin this afternoon.