Kelly injury restricts options

Another front-line option was lost to Mick McCarthy at the weekend following the latest injury problem for Tranmere Rovers striker David Kelly.Kelly was stretchered off for the second time this season after a heavy tackle in the 33rd minute of Tramere's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. A preliminary examination suggested that he had sustained a serious ankle injury."We're still looking for the swelling to subside to find out the exact damage, but I fear he could be out for some time and will miss the World Cup playoff against Belgium," said Tranmere manager, John Aldridge."Mick McCarthy will be disappointed about that and I'm not too pleased either. We've been having a bad run of injuries in recent weeks and this will only aggravate the situation."Kelly has not appeared in McCarthy's first XI in recent games, but showed to good effect when introduced as a second-half replacement for Alan McLoughlin during the recent 1-1 draw with Romania. Ironically, McLoughlin was on target for Portsmouth on Saturday with his 78th-minute goal inspiring a late, but unavailing fight-back by Portsmouth in their 3-2 defeat by West Bromwich Albion.Andy Townsend, only recently recovered from a damaged knee, was also on target, scoring Middlesbrough's goal in a 1-1 draw with Crewe.