Roy Keane is an uncertain starter for the Republic of Ireland's European championship games against Yugoslavia and Macedonia after damaging an ankle during Manchester United's 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

With Steve Staunton already out of both games because of hamstring trouble, Mick McCarthy's plans were thrown into further disarray within three minutes of the kick-off after Keane had emerged from a Gary Speed tackle in obvious pain.

Even while the game was in progress the Irishman was being treated by the team's physiotherapist but later, unwisely perhaps, he went back on to the pitch to join the team's post match celebrations.

"I knew immediately I was in trouble," he said. "I tried to run it off but deep down I sensed that I would have to watch the rest of the match from the bench.

"When the tackle came in I went over on my ankle and that was that. It's not the same ankle that I injured a few weeks ago but whether that's good or a bad thing remains to be seen."

"First I do one ankle and then the other - I should be in a wheelchair. If I were a horse they'd shoot me but there are no hard luck stories for Roy Keane.

"People say I've had a bad week. But I've two medals in my pocket and the chance of my teammates winning another for me on Wednesday. If this is what they mean by a bad week I hope I have some more."

McCarthy has "no idea" how serious the injury is. "At this point I don't know how to locate Roy but I imagine he will be in contact shortly," he said.

Keane, the first Irish player to accept the FA Cup since fellow Corkman Noel Cantwell led Manchester United to success over Leicester City in the 1963 final, later attended the team's celebration banquet before making ready for the trip to Barcelona and the chance of watching United complete their remarkable season with a win over Bayern Munich in the European Champions League final.

Caught in the middle of the second and third parts of an unprecedented treble, Alex Ferguson wasn't quite certain, it seemed, whether to celebrate this latest triumph or worry about Wednesday's tilt at history.

"We did what we had to do today, now we can finally focus on the European final," he said. "Once Teddy Sheringham had scored the opening goal so early, I felt that it was going to be our day.

"When Roy Keane went off I had a couple of options but I considered that Teddy's physical presence in the penalty area would be right for the day. I'm delighted to say that it worked out as I thought it might."

Like Keane, Paul Scholes, scorer of United's second goal in the 52nd minute, misses the Barcelona game through suspension and Ferguson did not seek to hide his sense of apprehension. "Paul was outstanding today - it's a shame that we must do without him in Barcelona."

On one point at least there was reassurance for United's manager. Jaap Stam was introduced for the last quarter of an hour and later reported no adverse reaction from a recent Achilles tendon injury. "I got through it without any problem - now it is looking good for Wednesday," he said.

For Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit comfort was much more elusive. "We had one or two good chances late in the game which could have made the finish very interesting but we made too many mistakes," he said. "It is no disgrace to be beaten by Manchester United - they are a fine team playing with a lot of confidence".

Sonia O'Sullivan, wearing a Newcastle rosette on her first visit to Wembley on Cup final day, summed it up succinctly when she said: "It was a marvellous occasion but a disappointing game." Many of the neutrals in a crowd of 79,000 might well have agreed!.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, apart from two long-term injured players Bixente Lizarazu and Giovane Elber, have a fully-fit squad for Wednesday's game.

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld revealed none of his players suffered any problems in their 4-2 win over VfL Bochum on Saturday.

Hitzfeld fielded Stefan Effenberg for only half of the match to keep him fresh for the clash at Barcelona's Nou Camp Stadium.

Bayern fly to Barcelona tomorrow after a final training spin in Munich today. Beckenbauer has called on fans to fully back Munich. "In Barcelona we will need everyone to cross their fingers very hard for victory in the match of the year," Beckenbauer told 30,000 people assembled on the Marienplatz to celebrate their 15th Bundesliga title.

Beckenbauer said he was very confident about winning the title, saying: "The English game suits us better than an Italian team."