World Cup newsBrian Kerr was largely keeping silent yesterday on Wednesday's news about Roy Keane's two fractured ribs, which Alex Ferguson estimates will keep him out of action for three weeks and, consequently, Ireland's opening World Cup qualifying games against Cyprus and Switzerland.
His only comment, last night, was that the Football Association of Ireland's medical team had been in contact with Manchester United in an attempt to "ascertain the exact detail of Keane's injury", one the club claimed was sustained against Chelsea, three days before Keane played 64 minutes of the game against Bulgaria at Lansdowne Road and another three before playing the full 90 minutes against Norwich at Old Trafford.
Kerr, then, was badly in need of some positive updates on the other members of his squad who were considered doubts for the Cyprus and Switzerland games.
He received some encouraging news from White Hart Lane, with Tottenham reporting that Robbie Keane had shown no ill-effects following his first outing of the season against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night.
Keane was back training yesterday and should, at least, make the bench for tomorrow's game against Birmingham City.
Whether Clinton Morrison makes the Birmingham squad remains doubtful. "He's 50-50," said the club's press officer yesterday, "he is back in training but he is sore, so he may not make it."
John O'Shea, meanwhile, has found himself drawn into the speculation surrounding the Wayne Rooney saga.
Newcastle have responded angrily to allegations that they are conniving with United over the Rooney bidding "war", with the "promise" of O'Shea their return for paving the Everton player's way to Old Trafford.
"Those allegations are offensive and absurd," said the club's statement.
"The suggestion that Newcastle United would be helping one of its main competitors secure one of the most talented players in Europe is bizarre. Newcastle is taking the allegations of conspiracy very seriously and is currently seeking legal advice."
The local Newcastle press insists, though, that O'Shea is on Bobby Robson's list of candidates to replace Jonathan Woodgate, who joined Real Madrid last week.
With Roy Keane, who has played in defence so far this season, and Wes Brown both injured, Rio Ferdinand not due to return from suspension until September 20th and Gabriel Heinze yet to put in an appearance at Old Trafford it seems implausible Ferguson would be willing to let O'Shea join up with Ireland team-mates Shay Given, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien at Newcastle, even if he is yet to rediscover the form of his breakthrough season at Old Trafford.
And, for now, Andy Reid remains a Nottingham Forest player, with manager Joe Kinnear dismissing the notion he was omitted from the squad for Wednesday's League Cup match against Scunthorpe to avoid him being cup-tied "when" he moves to a new club (still rumoured to be Spurs or Charlton) before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
"Andy has been away with Ireland and needed a rest, I can't think of the last time he had a break," said Kinnear. "It was nice to give him the opportunity and he will certainly be back in contention for Saturday.
Cyprus, meanwhile, have named a full-strength 24-man squad for Saturday week's game at Lansdowne Road, one that includes seven players who play their football outside Cyprus.
French coach Raymond Domenech has recalled Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Ludovic Giuly (Barcelona) and David Trezeguet (Juventus) to his squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Israel and the Faroe Islands.
Patrick Vieira, who has yet to play for Arsenal this season, also returns after missing the friendly against Bosnia earlier this month.
FRANCE: Goalkeepers: Barthez (Olympique Marseille), Coupet (Olympique Lyon). Defenders: Abidal (Olympique Lyon), Boumsong (Rangers), Evra (Monaco), Gallas (Chelsea), Givet (Monaco), Mendy (Paris St Germain), Squillaci (Monaco). Midfielders: Diarra (RC Lens), Makelele (Chelsea), Pedretti (Olympique Marseille), Pires (Arsenal), Rothen (Paris St Germain), Vieira (Arsenal). Forwards: Cisse (Liverpool), Giuly (Barcelona), Henry (Arsenal), Luyindula (Olympique Marseille), Trezeguet (Juventus).
CYPRUS: Goalkeepers: Panayiotou (AEK Athens), Morphis (Apoel). Defenders: Nikolaou (Anorthosis), Satsias (Apoel), Iakovou (Apollon), Constantinou (Xanthi), Charalambous (Omonia), Okkarides (Apoel), Lambrou (Ethnikos), Antoniou (Apollon), Kakoyiannis (Ethnikos). Midfielders: Kaiafas (Omonia), Theodotou (Omonia), Themistokleous (Omonia), Michail (Apoel), Eleftherious (AEK), Georgiou (Apoel), Charalampidis (Apoel), Ilia (Apoel), Garpozis (PAOK), Krassas (AEK Athens), Makridis (Apoel). Forwards: Okkas (Olympiakos), Konstantinou (PAO), Yiasoumi (PAOK).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (under-19 squad for friendly against England at Turner's Cross, September 9th): Logan (Leicester City), Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Cregg, O'Donnell (both Arsenal), Foley (Aston Villa), Painter (Birmingham City), O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), O'Dea (Celtic), Collins (Huddersfield), Clarke (Ipswich Town), Morris, Keogh (both Leeds United), Kelly (Liverpool), Keane (Luton Town), Gibson (Manchester United), McFaul (Notts County), Elebert (Preston North End), Best (Southampton).
