New Sunderland signing Gary Breen will have to wait for his debut after signing just four days before the season's opener at Nottingham Forest.
The 29-year-old has not played a game since the Republic of Ireland's last Euro 2004 qualifier against Georgia on June 11th.
West Ham released him at the end of last season, and he joined his new team-mates in training for the first time yesterday some five weeks in arrears.
Manager Mick McCarthy was delighted to have landed a man who won the bulk of his international caps to date under his reign with Ireland. But he admits it could be weeks yet before he his new signing ready to fight for his place.
"It would be grossly unfair for me to play Gary on Saturday," said McCarthy. "He's not had a game for two months, while the other players here have had five weeks' preparation.
"He's a fit lad and he's been training over the summer, but it's not the same as playing. To ask him to come in under that pressure and play when he's not right would be unfair.
"I know because I did it once when I went to Celtic after a long injury, and I was hopeless. I don't want that to be the case with Gary. He needs to be physically right.
"We've had five weeks' training and seven pre-season games - Gary has had none of that. I've got to curb the urge to rush him into the side. It would be remiss of me."
Sunderland are currently in a state of flux after having to drastically reduce the size of their first-team squad.
Central defenders Emerson Thome, Phil Babb and Joachim Bjorklund were all told they could leave on free transfers, although Jody Craddock's unexpected departure for Wolves briefly rekindled their hopes of a reprieve.
But McCarthy has moved swiftly to plug the gap by swooping for Breen on a two-year contract - and he is confident that he has done good business.