Gary Kelly admitted yesterday that his hopes of recovering from a shin injury in time for the Republic of Ireland's European championship game in Yugoslavia on October 10th, are slim.

Kelly, who hasn't played for Leeds United since the Carlsberg tournament at Lansdowne Road in July, has now been cleared to restart light training on Monday.

"The doctors stress that I can do only light work and they say that it will be another two or three weeks before I can hope to play again," he said.

"That would take me pretty close to the game in Belgrade and I'm not sure how Mick McCarthy would view that situation."

Liam George, the Republic of Ireland youth international, will not play again for Luton Town this season after breaking a leg in their game against Wigan.

The injury, sustained in a tackle, is a bad one and George later had to have a pin inserted in his leg, during surgery.

It comes just months after the player enjoyed the biggest success of his career when he scored the decisive goal in the penalty shoot out which gave Ireland victory over Germany in the final of the European under-18 championship in Cyprus.

"It's an unfortunate setback for a player who had so much to look forward to this season," said Ireland under-18 manager Brian Kerr. "But knowing the lad, I believe that he has the character to overcome it."

Members of the FAI Council will today be given an update on the Association's hopes of building a new greenfield stadium in the greater Dublin area.

At this point, however, the project is still some way off and a spokesman said yesterday that no announcement on the proposed stadium will be made after today's Council meeting.