As they prepare for next month's European Championship qualifying games against Albania and Georgia, several members of Brian Kerr's squad continue to see their names crop up in English transfer speculation - most of it, so far, ranging from the tenuous to the, seemingly, downright groundless.

Following a report yesterday by a local Newcastle newspaper, the Evening Chronicle, Stephen Carr is the latest Irish player who may well be pestered with the "any truth in the rumours" questions that have plagued Damien Duff for the past month or so. Duff, presumably, will be glad of the break while his international team-mate fields the bulk of the transfer queries.

A week after Carr, who has a year left on his contract at Spurs, dismissed talk of a move to Arsenal, he has, not for the first time, been linked with Newcastle. The Chronicle claimed yesterday that the club would offer Spurs their injury-prone striker Carl Cort "plus cash" to secure the Dubliner's signing.

"All the talk among the Irish squad is that Carr will be on the move once the European championship qualifiers are over early next month," the paper claimed.

Millwall's Steven Reid, who, word had it, was Blackburn-bound, is now said to be a target for Birmingham City, while Joe Murphy, the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper, continues to be linked with Rotherham.

One of the more curious rumours doing the rounds is the one suggesting Leeds United's Stephen McPhail is a target for David O'Leary at Aston Villa. Curious because, when once asked why he wasn't picking McPhail at Leeds, O'Leary said: "The days of being a playmaker in the Premiership are gone" - to which McPhail, who described O'Leary's departure from Elland Road as a "huge boost for me", replied: "If he said there's no room for passing then you might as well not play the game."

Elsewhere, Matt Holland remains at first division Ipswich, despite talk of interest from Spurs, Middlesbrough, Charlton, Southampton, Portsmouth and Fulham, to name but six, while Kevin Kilbane and Colin Healy's "any-minute-now" moves to Everton have yet to materialise, with David Moyes dampening the "Kilbane to Goodison Park" talk somewhat when he said: "Reports that suggest I want to sign Kevin for Everton are completely untrue."

The Sunderland press persist with talk of Richard Dunne's imminent signing by McCarthy, having given up on the assumption that Kerr's predecessor would bring Gary Breen to the club following his release by West Ham.

The only factual news of Irish players in England yesterday was the signing of new one-year contracts by ex-Bohemians pair Gareth O'Connor and Shaun Maher at Bournemouth, the club newly promoted to division two.

Geoff Breslan, released by Exeter City, who were relegated from the English League, has joined Cork City on trial.

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens has confirmed that Cork City forward John O'Flynn will start against Germany at Turner's Cross on Monday (3 p.m.), the friendly that precedes the under-21s' European Championship qualifying games against Albania and Georgia. Borussia Dortmund's Patrick Kohlmann's availability for the three matches, however, remains uncertain.

"He's doing his civil service in Germany," said Givens. "As far as I know he's looking after handicapped children, but although he had organised for someone to cover for him while he's away, the authorities won't accept it. We've spoken to the German Federation and they are trying to help us. They tell us that normally it can be sorted out easily, so I'm hoping to have him in before the Germany game."