Steve Finnan's participation in the World Cup qualifiers against Israel, on Saturday, and the Faroe Islands next Wednesday looks increasingly unlikely after the player was sent back to Liverpool yesterday for further treatment on his thigh injury.
He sustained the injury in his club's dramatic Champions League final win over AC Milan last week but arrived nevertheless at the Republic of Ireland team base in Portmarnock on Tuesday. But despite sitting out training that day to receive treatment from the Irish medical staff it was decided to send him back to Merseyside for further assessment.
Kerr yesterday refused to be drawn on whether or not he believed the player would pull through in time, admitting just that Finnan had "some chance of playing" against Israel. The manager's body language, though, suggested otherwise and the Liverpool staff will need to pull off something special to have the defender fit by Saturday.
"Steve has gone back to Liverpool. He has hardly been back there since the Champions League final and I think it's important that his club have a look at him," Kerr said. "We've had a number of defenders ruled out which is not great but we still have eight who can play in defensive positions."
Kerr again complemented the job Blackburn's Steven Reid did at right back in Glasgow at the weekend and it is now increasingly likely he will start in that position against the Israelis. The alternative would see John O'Shea switching flanks and such a move would facilitate Ian Harte's return at left back.
It's a tough choice for Kerr - who is without the suspended Stephen Carr - as Israel's golden boy, Yossi Benayoun, will channel his sides attacks down that flank. Kerr insists, however, that his squad is well positioned to reshape and remould to meet whatever needs arise.
"Steven Reid played a lot of his Millwall career at right back so I have no concerns about that. . . and anyway, all the defenders we have left in the squad have played at right back in the Premiership at one stage or another in their careers."
There are no other injury concerns although Gary Doherty did retire early from yesterday morning's session after jarring his knee when taking a shot. He received some treatment and is not a doubt.
Kerr is in no doubt Saturday's game is one the Republic "must win". "We have to get some decent points from our home games," he said. "This table tells no lies...we will target winning our remaining five games. This group cant keep going on like this with all the main matches being draws. Someone will have to break that trend."
The manager and his players are still clearly frustrated with the manner in which they conceded the late equaliser in Tel-Aviv two months ago, but, Kerr insists that while "showing the opposition respect" is a must, Saturday's tactics will centre on "imposing our own gameplan" and not worrying about what the visitors bring to the table.
"It'll be about our game and how we impose ourselves while making home advantage count. We attacked for most of the game [in Israel] and I expect we'll play with the same vigour and style."