THE RETURN of Roy Keane is likely to be one of the changes in personnel among the Republic of Ireland's 20 man squad to take on Macedonia which Mick McCarthy will announce next Thursday. The World Cup qualifier is on October 9th.

Keane came through a reserve game unscathed for Manchester United against Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday night and following Alex Ferguson's ensuing promise to play Keane at Aston Villa tomorrow in the absence of the suspended Nicky Butt, McCarthy will attend that game.

"I want to see Steve Staunton playing on the left side of defence there as well, because I haven't seen him do it for his club and I've a sneaking suspicion that Roy might be involved. So that will be nice if he is because with Denis (Irwin) and Andy (Townsend) playing it would mean four of them.

The Villa Park trek would also afford the Irish manager a chance to check out Paul McGrath's well being with a view to recalling the great man.

McCarthy will also have associates keeping a watching brief on the Leeds Newcastle, Liverpool Chelsea and Sunderland Coventry games before finalising his 20 man squad. "I don't think it will be exactly the same squad, but then again I don't know because somebody might get injured."

With the Premiership idle the weekend before the Macedonia game so as to facilitate England's World Cup qualifying campaign, McCarthy will bring the Irish squad together on Friday, October 4th, affording them five days preparation.

This is a day less than was the case prior to the opening 5-0 victory over Liechtenstein on September 1st. McCarthy reasons: "Liechtenstein was great but I think if we'd been there another day it would have been a day too long to be honest. Just being together, it was more than long enough to be quite honest."

The surprises in McCarthy's squad will concern the omissions rather than any unexpected inclusions. Jon Goodman, the London born Wimbledon striker who reputedly has Irish roots, has not, so far as McCarthy is aware, located the necessary documentary evidence.

"I haven't got anything confirmed from him, so until I do I won't be commenting on that one," says McCarthy.

. Bernard O'Byrne will relinquish his position as honorary treasurer of the FAI on becoming the association's chief executive on October 1st. The vacancy may be filled at the senior council meeting of November 25th, with the assistant treasurer, Michael Hyland, taking over the post in the interim.