Denis Irwin, out for the last fortnight with a knee injury, may be in contention for a place when Manchester United resume their English FA Premiership programme against Derby County next Saturday.

The news will reassure Mick McCarthy at a time when he is contemplating the prospect of having to plan without Robbie Keane for the European Championship game against Yugoslavia on November.

Irwin was excluded from the Ireland squad for the postponed game at Belgrade on October 10th because of lateral ligament damage in his knee but now, after resuming light training, he is optimistic about his prospects of an early return at club level.

"I am back running and kicking the ball and that is encouraging," said Irwin who has decided not to travel with United to Denmark for tomorrow's European Champions League game against Brondby but to stay behind and pursue his fight for fitness.

"Depending on my progress over the next few days I could be in with a chance of playing on Saturday, but if it doesn't happen then I would certainly expect to be in the frame for a game the following Wednesday.

"Thankfully, there have been no complications in my recovery so far and it suggests that, all going well, I'll be back playing again within the week, soon enough to give me a chance of getting into the squad for the game against Yugoslavia."

Meanwhile, there is no indication if Phil Babb will have returned to action by the time the squad is announced. Babb is still recovering from a back injury sustained in Liverpool's game against Chelsea on October 4th.

Robbie Keane is due to undergo a cartilage operation this morning after damaging his knee in a freak accident at the Ireland team hotel last Tuesday and McCarthy is awaiting the outcome of the surgery before assessing the player's chances of recovering by November 18th.

"At this point, Robbie's chances don't look too bright but you never know with injuries of this type," he said. "It all depends on the extent of the damage, but right now there is no way of knowing what the position is."

Tommy Lynch, the beleaguered Waterford United player-manager, has parted company from the club. According to the club, the decision was by mutual agreement.

Lynch was under severe pressure after Waterford's embarrassing 6-0 defeat by Bray Wanderers on Saturday. The club have eight points from eight matches. and are fourth from bottom of the league.