David Kelly is out of the forthcoming World Cup games against Iceland and Lithuania after undergoing a cartilage operation in Manchester yesterday.

It follows his early departure from Tranmere Rovers' home game against Middlesbrough last Saturday when he was replaced after 12 minutes by John Aldridge.

He is likely to be out for at least Lansdowne Road next month.

Kevin Kilbane, the only newcomer in the Ireland squad, was also injured at the weekend, but, in the absence of any information to the contrary, Mick McCarthy assumes he will be available to join the squad when they travel to Iceland on Thursday morning.

Kilbane was scheduled to play for West Brom against Stoke City tomorrow, but McCarthy has invoked the international five-day rule to ensure that he will be available to travel with the remainder of the squad.

As a mark of respect to the late Princess Diana, Derry City have postponed their championship game against Shelbourne, scheduled for Saturday evening next at the Brandywell, to Sunday afternoon.

A spokesman for Derry City said that it would be "inappropriate" to go ahead with the game as originally planned.