Just hours after calling up Keith O'Neill for next Wednesday's friendly against the Czech Republic, Mick McCarthy was last night seeking a replacement for the injury-prone Middlesbrough player.

McCarthy nominated O'Neill to fill the vacancy created by the withdrawal of Damien Duff, unaware that he had sustained a groin injury during the 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Monday.

Now Bryan Robson, the Middlesbrough manager, believes O'Neill will be out for at least a fortnight. "Keith puts so much into games, that he is always like to be hurt, and that's what happened on Monday when he over stretched for the ball," said Robson.

"Until then, I thought he had been our best player and that's what makes this doubly disappointing. He had worked hard to get himself back into the game and then something like this happens."

It completes a miserable period for the Dubliner, who was recently out of the game for seven weeks because of a back injury. Then, within 60 seconds of the start of his comeback appearance against Leicester City, he deflected the ball into his net to send his team on the way to a 2-1 defeat.

Duff had earlier withdrawn because of a virus.

With two left-sided midfield players, Kevin Kilbane and Mark Kennedy, left in the squad, McCarthy still has attractive options in this position.

At this point, however, he is light in front line cover, with only David Connolly on stand by if either Niall Quinn or Robbie Keane run into problems.

Earlier, McCarthy had called up the uncapped Fulham player, Steve Finnan, to replace Rory Delap, who has a stomach ailment. Finnan made seven appearances in the Under-21 team before graduating to the A team for the game against Northern Ireland at Tolka Park two years ago. He also played in the A team which beat the National League last season.