BRIAN KERR'S beleaguered forces have been dealt another severe blow. Today Ireland must take on Morocco in the last 16 of the World Youth Championship in Kuala Lumpur with a depleted pool of players.

Midfielder Damien Duff is the latest casualty. He was confined to bed yesterday with an upset stomach and a high temperature and it is now uncertain whether he will have recovered sufficiently to face the Africans in the Shah Alam stadium this evening (8.30 p.m. local time, 1.30 p.m. Irish time).

Already, Kerr is without the suspended Derek O'Connor, his first-choice goalkeeper, team captain Thomas Morgan and John Burns, whose ankle injury will keep him out for three weeks.

Question marks also hang over Trevor Molloy. The Athlone Town striker did not train yesterday in the Shah Alam stadium and although he says his damaged ankle is not sore, he admits that it is still swollen. It will be a late, late decision for him.

Indeed, it will be a late, late decision for Kerr when it comes to naming his team. "I won't know until the very last minute who I will have available to play," said the manager. "Damien Duffs illness is another severe blow and is one we could have done without. We'll just have to wait and see."

Kerr will also make a late decision on who will captain the team in the absence of Thomas Morgan. Burns is the nominated vice-captain, but he is out of the game. So a deputy must be found. It could be either Colin Hawkins, or David Worrell.

While there is some bad news for the Irish, team spirit is good, which should aid their performance tonight.

Meanwhile, Valeta da Rosa, the Uruguayan referee, who sent off Derek O'Connor in the 1-1 draw with China on Sunday, will not referee again in these championships.

The news emerged at a meeting between FAI officials and FIFA officials yesterday. Ireland's delegation leader Charlie Cahill said: "We know it will not allow Derek to play against the Moroccans, nor have his red card quashed, but it at least vindicates our stance on the matter.

"We told FIFA we considered it a most unfair decision to send off the goalkeeper as that is the way Derek has been taking his goal kicks since he was in schoolboy football and that there was no intention of time-wasting tactics on his part.

"FIFA acknowledged we had a point without giving too much away and they then gave us the news about the referee," added Cahill.

The Ireland team believe they can go through to the last eight today against a side already beaten by Ghana in the African qualifiers.