The Republic of Ireland youth team manager, Brian Kerr, will bring the club versus country row to a head by announcing his final squad of 18 later this week for the under-20 World Cup in Nigeria. Several English clubs, notably Leeds United and Everton, have expressed concerns about their players travelling to Nigeria on health and security grounds, despite reassurances from FIFA.
Leeds have stated that none of their three Irish players in the preliminary squad - Stephen McPhail, Damien Lynch and Paul Donnelly - will be released, despite all three having had their inoculations.
It's a remarkable decision in the case of Donnelly who has been told that he will be let go by Leeds when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Perhaps of more concern is Everton's decision to delay the inoculations of Richard Dunne and Dean Delaney. "I've decided to move forward on the selection of the final squad of 18 sooner than expected to hoosh things on a bit," said Kerr yesterday. "I want to make it clear to all the clubs just who has been selected so as none of them can use the excuse of not knowing whether their players were going to be included in the final squad or not."
The release issue is believed to be on the agenda when FIFA's executive committee meets in Zurich on Wednesday, a meeting FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne may attend.
One player who now seems certain to miss Nigeria is Alan Quinn, who has broken a bone in his foot and will be laid up for five weeks.
Meanwhile, Kerr has called up Cork City defender Greg O'Halloran for tomorrow night's UEFA under-18 championship play-off first leg with Northern Ireland in Belfast. He replaces Exeter City's Geoff Breslan who has cried off with injury.
Republic of Ireland under-18 squad: D Delaney (Everton), J Murphy (Tranmere Rovers), J Frost (Waterford United), J Gavin (Middlesbrough), K Doherty (Liverpool), P Murphy (Blackburn Rovers), G O'Halloran (Cork City), C Healy (Celtic), G Crossley (Celtic), L Miller (Celtic), C O'Grady (Sligo Rovers), P Drew (Home Farm/Everton), M Reddy (Kilkenny City), S Byrne (West Ham United), R Baker (Shelbourne), G Doherty (Luton Town, capt), T Fitzpatrick (Southen United), C Martyn (UCD).
