McCarthy to keep options open

Mick McCarthy will attempt to cover all contingencies when he names his preliminary squad for the Republic of Ireland's opening World Cup game against Holland in Amsterdam on September 2nd.

He has to notifying clubs 14 days in advance of the game of the players he intends to call up. And with the Premiership beginning next weekend that deadline presents him with obvious problems.

By naming as many as 30 players in his squad, to be reduced to 20 at a later stage, he will give himself the chance of assessing current form while, at the same time, stretching the time limit for those with the task of proving their fitness.

Topping the list in this category is Wimbledon's Kenny Cunningham whose presence in the team in Amsterdam, could well be central to McCarthy's hopes of achieving a good result.

However, the Dubliner missed his club's opening game in the First Division against Crystal Palace on Saturday after undergoing a hernia operation in June.

He says he needs to play at least two club games to give himself a realistic chance of getting into the national team, a target which he is far from certain of hitting.

For all the encouraging aspects of Ireland's end of season programme, it was still clear that they can ill afford to go without Cunningham in central defence. Earlier fears about the availability of goalkeeper Alan Kelly were dispelled when he played in Blackburn's scoreless draw at Tranmere on Saturday.

A week earlier, Kelly had been stretchered off unconscious after being involved in an accident in the pre-season game against St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park but happily, the damage turned out to be less serious than suspected.

Significantly, Lee Carsley's name did not appear on Blackburn's teamsheet, after earlier statements that he was hoping to move to a Premiership club. In a game in which the primary task is likely to be one of containment, Carsley could have a role to play against the Dutch but only if he is given the chance of proving his match fitness.

There are doubts about Stephen McPhail, one of Leeds United's pre-season casualties, but because he is likely to be required merely as cover it's not a pressing problem for McCarthy.

McPhail, of course, was one of the bigger successes of the three-match American tour and other young players who did their chances no harm of making an enlarged squad of 30 are Matt Holland and Dominic Foley.

Whether they retain their places after the squad has been reduced, is less certain, although Holland, a pivotal personality in Ipswich's promotion, could well emerge as a contender for Carsley's place in the travelling party.

With Tony Cascarino now retired Foley's arrival on the scene is opportune, although Niall Quinn and Robbie Keane will almost certainly be McCarthy's first team choices.

As ever, Roy Keane's name will be one of the first down on the manager's list.

Holland are committed to replacing Dennis Bergkamp for the game in Amsterdam and one of those in line for the vacancy is Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Meanwhile, Denis Irwin's testimonial game at Old Trafford tomorrow is expected to attract a crowd of 45,000 for the first of the Manchester derbies in the new season.

It represents compelling evidence of the popularity of a player who, as ever, began his 11th season in United's team, with an efficient performance in the Charity Shield at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy will decide today if he is going to call up any replacements for tomorrow's friendly against Yugoslavia.

McIlroy's squad for the Windsor Park clash was reduced to 17 yesterday when skipper Steve Lomas became the fifth player to withdraw because of injury.

To add to McIlroy's problems striker Phil Gray and centre-half Colin Murdock arrived at the team hotel in Belfast with injuries

The pair, however, trained with the rest of the squad yesterday and McIlroy will check this morning to see if they have suffered any reaction to the session.

If either or both of them cannot play McIlroy will turn to his standby list.