Andy Townsend was able to reassure Mick McCarthy on at least one point when the Republic of Ireland squad assembled in Dublin yesterday evening in preparation for Wednesday's World Cup play-off against Belgium.

The extent of Townsend's recovery from the knee injury which kept him out of the Romanian game had been a source of some concern for the manager, all the more so when added to the loss of Roy Keane, another of his established midfielders. Three trouble-free appearances for Middlesbrough in the last 10 days, however, have cleared up any lingering doubts about his ability to lead the team out next Wednesday.

Now the emphasis switches to another of McCarthy's senior midfield players, Ray Houghton. Houghton was in action for Reading in their 3-3 draw with the current First Division leaders, Nottingham Forest, last night, when he played the full 90 minutes. No less than Townsend, Houghton has some important responsibilities to discharge if the first instalment of the play-off is to be negotiated successfully. He is due to arrive in Dublin this morning.

As in his custom, McCarthy will not announce his selection until match day, but managerial caution does not stretch to the point where he declines to comment on the roles which Townsend and Houghton fill in his game plan.

Houghton, never more authoritative than in the game against Romania a fortnight ago, will be expected to provide the bridgehead between midfield and the front line, with Townsend providing the physical presence in the anchor role in midfield.

Gary Breen has significantly less hope of making the first XI, but the manager will still be consoled by the news that the injury which slowed him perceptibly in Coventry City's defeat at Barnsley last Monday has healed satisfactorily.

With Phil Babb injured and McCarthy steadfast in his determination not to recall Paul McGrath unless it becomes absolutely necessary, Breen will now provide the cover for Ken Cunningham and Ian Harte at centre back. To that extent, his form in today's opening training session at Clonshaugh will be carefully monitored. Damien Duff's unexpected return from Moldova, where he has been playing for Ireland's Under-18 team in their European Championship qualifying programme, prompted speculation that the accomplished Blackburn player, so influential in the World Under-20 championship in Malaysia earlier in the year, has been recruited for the senior squad.

Alas, his premature return has less to do with national interests, it seems, than Blackburn's need for his presence in their squad for a difficult assignment at Newcastle. "I was not involved in that situation," said McCarthy. "It was Brian Kerr's decision to allow him travel back to Blackburn."

Immediately after tomorrow evening's televised FAI-Opel Awards function in Dublin, the squad will move to Kilkea Castle, outside Athy, where they will have two training sessions on Monday, away from the public gaze. McCarthy believes that in the current climate of high expectancy, it is better to divorce his players, as much as is possible, from the hype surrounding the game.

Roy Keane is expected to travel to Dublin tomorrow for the awards ceremony in which he joins David Connolly and Ken Cunningham on a short list of three for the Player Of The Year award, won 12 months ago by Alan McLoughlin.

Before going to Tolka Park yesterday evening to watch the Premier Division championship leaders, Shamrock Rovers in action against St Patrick's Athletic, McCarthy said that he was saddened by Northern Ireland's decision to part company with Bryan Hamilton.

"I spoke with him on the phone today and invited him to be my personal guest at the game next Wednesday," he said. "Bryan is one of the nicest people in football and typical of the man, he put his own troubles behind him to tell me that he believes we will beat Belgium. He, of course, devised the match plan which saw Northern Ireland beat them 3-0 in Belfast in February and as such, his advice will be very helpful."

Belgium, who are are scheduled to arrive in Dublin on Monday afternoon, yesterday named Mike Verstraeten, a member of the side which beat Wales earlier this month, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement from international football of Philippe Albert.

Before making the announcement, manager Georges Leekens was at pains to dismiss speculation that it was his decision to drop Albert for the Welsh assignment that prompted the player's shock announcement, just hours after he had been recalled to the squad to travel to Dublin.