Gareth Farrelly is hoping to move centre stage for the second time in a week at Lansdowne Road next Sunday when a Republic of Ireland XI meets an international selection in Paul McGrath's testimonial game.

Just 24 days after delivering the goal which protected Everton's Premiership status for another season, Farrelly is hoping to use the testimonial game as a stepping stone back into the national team for the meeting with Mexico at Lansdowne Road six days later.

After that, the great prize will be a place in the starting line up for the European championship programme in the autumn, but irrespective of how that plot unfolds, it will not hold a more eventful or passionate day than that at Goodison Park last Sunday afternoon.

Farrelly, the first of Howard Kendall's signings after the most successful Everton manager of modern years, had been enticed back to the club last summer, has not been without his critics in recent months.

Things were going badly at the club and in the search for scapegoats, the young Dubliner was just one of those targeted by fans. But in as long as it takes a 25-yard shot to travel at speed to the net, player and manager were vindicated and the agonies of the last few months erased in moments of sheer grandeur against Coventry.

"It was, by a long way, the most important goal I've ever scored and after watching it hit the net, it was a marvellous experience just to stand there and feel the tension ease," he said.

"Before the end, we would be sweating again, of course, but eventually, my goal was the one that kept us up on goal difference.

"Afterwards I was amused to read, again, how unusual it is for me to score with my right foot. According to some of the critics, that's the one I use mainly for standing on, that I can play the ball only with the other one. It's funny that, but I don't remember ever scoring for Everton with my left foot. "But that's not important. The thing which really counts is that we'll be playing again in the top division next season and that we have the chance to profit from some of the mistakes over the last nine months.

"It's been one of the toughest seasons I've had since coming to England. But I've finished it in style with a lot of profile and my ambition now is build on it next season, with both Everton and Ireland."

Farrelly, mobbed by Everton fans during a promotional assignment in Liverpool yesterday, woke up with a sore knee, the product of a collision with fellow Ireland player, Gary Breen, early in the second half.

Breen, who had done well in his aerial duel with Duncan Ferguson, departed shortly afterwards and may now struggle to regain full fitness in time for both the McGrath testimonial and the Mexican game.

By contrast, the Everton midfielder expects to be given the all clear after treatment today and is planning to join up as scheduled, with his national team colleagues in Dublin on Friday.

McCarthy will be anxious to reward Farrelly's heroics with another cap after leaving him out of the Everton game. He must balance that, however, against the need to rehabilitate Mark Kennedy, another prime contender for the role of running the left flank.

While Farrelly was adding to Everton's reputation as the great escapologists at Goodison, Kennedy was furnishing still more evidence that he is relishing the move back to London in Wimbledon's 1-1 draw with Leeds United. The travail of his time with Liverpool is well documented but increasingly, there are signs that he is now regaining his self belief.

After being substituted in the second game in the World Cup play off against Belgium in Brussels last November, he missed the first two European warm-up games against the Czech Republic and Argentina. Now, there is a perceived need to bring him back into the side in this, the last game before the action begins in the European championship.

As yet, there is no definitive word on the rate of Jason McAteer's recovery from the leg injury sustained in Liverpool's defeat of Arsenal last Wednesday. As expected, he was not considered for the game against Derby Co on Saturday but has still not been withdrawn from the Ireland squad.

Denis Irwin, the Manchester United full back, is also struggling and with Gary Breen now added to the list, the days ahead may prove difficult for McCarthy and his management team.

Aston Villa's out-of-contract defender Steve Staunton yesterday insisted he won't be rushed into a quick decision on his future.

The Republic of Ireland international has been offered £1 million-a-year to stay at Villa Park. But manager John Gregory has set a June 1st deadline for a decision from the 29-year-old who is attracting interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle, saying that if Staunton goes he will the close-season time to find an adequate replacement.

"I will do what is best for me," said Staunton. "A deadline has been set, but not by me. As far as I'm concerned I'll take my time to decide what I eventually do."

After weeks of on-off speculation Ajax Amsterdam yesterday confirmed they have signed Georgian international Georgi Kindkladze from Manchester City. The 24-yearold midfielder has signed a five-year contract and will join fellow Georgian Shota Arveladze at the Dutch champions. The transfer fee was not revealed but City have been asking for around £5 million. Kinkladze will play in the number 11 shirt vacated by Michael Laudrup.