McCarthy gets good new on Cascarino

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy got a much needed boost last night with the news that Tony Cascarino is winning his battle to be fit for the World Cup game against FYR, Macedonia in Skopie next week.

Cascarino came on as a second half substitute and scored for Nancy in last night's 4-1 defeat at Marseille in the French First Division. It was the player's first match since suffering a hamstring injury three weeks ago and the signs look good for next week's crucial international.

It may also prove a welcome boost for Shelbourne, who were prepared to put their Premier Division championship challenge at risk and rest Stephen Geoghegan in tomorrow evening's important meeting with St Patrick's Athletic at Tolka Park.

McCarthy indicated yesterday that he may seek to have Geoghegan withdrawn from the championship game. With Niall Quinn and David Connolly already out of the game and doubts surrounding the fitness of Cascarino and Keith O'Neill, McCarthy can ill afford to lose another forward through injury.

That was the reason he put Damien Richardson on notice yesterday that he may have to impose on the club's goodwill and ask them to omit the player from their starting line up against St Patrick's. If he does, he will find that Richardson is not insensitive to his dilemma.

"If Mick McCarthy asks me to go without Stephen on Friday evening, I will say yes," he said. "I had the honour of playing international football and I know how important it is for an individual to be selected and then play for his country.

"It is simply a wonderful experience and I will not stand in the away of any of my players representing Ireland. But as I understand it, Mick is to come back to me on the matter tomorrow."

McCarthy's decision reflects the extent of his front line problems as he ponders the resources available to him for the crucial game in Macedonia.

The Tolka Park fixture does not come within the ambit of the FIFA rule which precludes players from assisting their clubs for five days before a competitive international game, except with the expressed approval of the international manager involved.

In the context of the Macedonian game, that doesn't take effect until Saturday morning but McCarthy's dwindling options are such, that he may well seek to protect what he has and ask Shelbourne to rest the player.

I shall be in contact with Damien Richardson again tomorrow, seeking his co operation if I think it advisable for Stephen to be rested," he said.

"At the end of the day, that depends on whether we will still have Tony Cascarino in the squad on Friday. He was due to play for his club last night and I will be checking with him to see how he made out."

Geoghegan is the first home based player to be included in a World Cup squad for some time and McCarthy makes it clear that he regards him as an important member of it.

"This is no token gesture to the National League," he said. "Stephen is coming with us on merit alone and he could become even more important, if we lose Tony Cascarino."

The prospect of having to take on the defending champions without one of his leading goalscorers, is not one which appeals to Richardson. With 14 championship goals to his credit, Geoghegan is second only to his clubmate, Pat Morley as the most prolific marksman in the competition and to that extent, he would be a serious loss to the team.

However, after last night's encouraging news from the French First Division, McCarthy may decide that it won't be necessary to force Geoghegan to miss out on tomorrow's vital game.

Stephen Staunton, who returned to Aston Villa's team against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park last Saturday, confirmed yesterday that he will be linking up with the Ireland squad in Dublin tomorrow at the start of the build up to the Macedonian assignment.

Staunton said that he suffered no reaction to a recent ankle injury during the Blackburn game and was perfectly satisfied with his fitness levels for the international fixture.