ROY KEANE is still on course for a rare appearance in the Republic of Ireland team in Tuesday's World Cup warm up game against Wales in Cardiff.

Mick McCarthy, who lost Denis Irwin and Shay Given from his squad earlier in the week, confirmed yesterday that there had been no further withdrawals from the original party of 20.

And with players attached to Premiership clubs enjoying a weekend off, it should mean that Keane will be available for what is only his third international appearance in 12 months.

The wayward Manchester United player will be one of those in line to captain the team, following the earlier defection of usual captain Andy Townsend. Another player under consideration is Steve Staunton, who led the team in the European Championship game against Portugal in Lisbon in November 1995, but McCarthy says there will be no announcement before he selects the team on Monday.

Among the squad members playing with their clubs today are Alan Kelly (Sheffield Utd) and Alan McLoughlin (Portsmouth), but the Irish manager doesn't expect either John Sheridan or Keith Branagan to be involved in Bolton's meeting with Reading.

"Obviously I'm concerned that all squad players in action over the weekend avoid injury, but particularly so in the case of Alan Kelly," said McCarthy.

"We've already lost one goalkeeper - Shay Given - and with Keith Branagan still only re establishing himself after a recent knock, the last thing, I need is for Alan to get injured.

The players are due to assemble at their Cardiff base tomorrow morning and a training session is planned for the afternoon. There will be another session on Monday morning before McCarthy announces his team.

Meanwhile, Nathan Blake became the latest player to withdraw from Wales' squad for the match against the Republic of Ireland.

Yesterday the Bolton striker pulled out with a knee strain and will be replaced by Sheffield United's Gareth Taylor.

Manager Bobby Gould has already lost Manchester United's Ryan Giggs after he sustained a calf strain in his side's FA Cup fourth round replay defeat at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Giggs's absence maintains his record for missing every friendly international Wales have been involved in since he became the youngest player to represent Wales at the age of 17 against West Germany in 1991.