Ian Harte has been forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday's game against Sweden at Lansdowne Road.

Harte was withdrawn by Leeds United manager David O'Leary after sustaining what was reported to be a back injury in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Elland Road yesterday.

One suspects that it will disappoint Mick McCarthy as much as the player for, almost certainly, he was planning to put Harte in his starting line-up on Wednesday, ahead of the two scheduled European Championship games against Yugoslavia and Macedonia in June.

After hitting a rocky patch at club level last season, the defender has put together an impressive recovery this year. And that is likely to be reflected in a tight call between Harte and Steve Staunton for the left back position when McCarthy gets to name his team for the next competitive game.

Although there has been nothing to suggest that Manchester United will withhold either Roy Keane or Dennis Irwin, McCarthy will be relieved if and when the players join the squad, which is due to assemble in Dublin this morning. Ominously, Paul Scholes and Andy Cole were yesterday withdrawn from the England squad for Wednesday's meeting with Hungary at Budapest. With Wolves involved in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion yesterday, Robbie Keane and David Connolly will also be among the late arrivals while Niall Quinn is not due in until shortly before noon.

Quinn, whose 20 goals for Sunderland helped them to the championship, was named in the Division One team of the season at the PFA awards in London last night.