West Bromwich Albion are to seek compensation from the FAI for the facial injury which caused the withdrawal of Michael Evans from the Republic of Ireland's squad before last Wednesday's World Cup play-off against Belgium.

Evans, who joined West Brom from Southampton for a fee of £750,000 only last month, fractured his cheekbone in two places after colliding with Jason McAteer during a training session.

He returned home the following day and has already been ruled out of the return game against the Belgians. Now West Brom believe that they should be compensated by the FAI.

"We pay the transfer fees and the wages - the Irish association has a moral responsibility to compensate us," said Dr John Evans, the West Brom secretary.

Evans, the latest English-born player to declare for Ireland under the ancestry rule, made his international debut when replacing Tony Cascarino in the closing minutes of the 1-1 draw with Romania at Lansdowne Road on October 11th.

Denis Irwin, Ireland's goalscorer last week, is expected to return for Manchester United when they resume their European Champions' League programme with a return game against Feyenoord on Wednesday.

And that will encourage Mick McCarthy as he prepares to name his squad for the second leg of the World Cup play off at Brussels, a week on Saturday.

It was a recurrence of a groin strain, sustained in the opening instalment of the Belgian tie which kept Irwin out of United's 6-1 dismissal of Sheffield Wednesday at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Later, Alex Ferguson said that the injury was not a serious one and in a situation in which he is likely to summon all his experience for the European assignment, the likelihood is that the Irishman will be included in the travelling party tomorrow.

The full back has a history of groin problems in recent seasons and to that extent, his withdrawal from Saturday's game was not a cause for deep concern. Yet, McCarthy will be looking for a big performance from the Cork man on Wednesday to foster hope for the demanding examination awaiting the Ireland team in Brussels.

Irwin wasn't the only member of Ireland's World Cup team to miss Saturday's action in the Premiership. Also marked absent, but for a different reason, was Steve Staunton, another probable member of McCarthy's starting line up in Brussels.

Staunton's eventful start to his season with Aston Villa, hit a new low when he was left out of the team which lost to Chelsea on a day when Mark Hughes celebrated his 34th birthday with one of the London club's two goals.

Villa manager Brian Little has admitted it will be "difficult" for Villa to persuade the Republic of Ireland defender to sign a new contract because of the Bosman ruling.

Little hinted that the club may have to break their wage structure to hold onto Staunton.

Staunton's contract is up in the summer and he is the only member of the current Villa squad not to be tied to the club until at least the summer of 1999.

Villa could command a £5 million fee for Staunton if he moved now to another club, but if the player waits until next June, he can leave on a free transfer.

Little, who has already held initial talks with Staunton and his adviser, admitted: "Steve is in the driving seat. We have somehow got to find common ground, but it is going to be very difficult for us.

"It will be a long process, though - opening offers have been exchanged and there is plenty of talking still to come."

The star members of the current Villa squad earn between £15,000 and £17,000 a week, but it is certain they will have to top the £20,000 mark if they are to hold onto players like Staunton in the future.

David Kelly marked his return to Tranmere's team after an ankle injury, by scoring in their 2-1 defeat by Sheffield United and now looks certain to be named in McCarthy's squad for the World Cup play-off.

While some of the established Irish players in Britain struggled at the weekend, there was considerably more encouragement for the younger generation, notably the Ireland Under-21 player, Alan Maybury.

Maybury got into Leeds United's starting line up for the first time this season, ahead of the Ireland player, Ian Harte, and marked it with a competent performance in their 1-0 success over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Damien Duff was involved in the build up to the goal by club captain, Tim Sherwood which earned Blackburn a point at Barnsley and Jim Crawford, only recently recovered from injury, was on the bench for Newcastle's 3-3 draw with Leicester City.

Robbie Keane's reputation as one of the most gifted of the emerging players in Britain, was illustrated again when his goal, eight minutes from the end, gave Wolves an important 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.