PAUL McGRATH is hoping that the disappointment of Skopje can be overcome when the national squad journeys to Bucharest on April 30th.

After withdrawing from the squad in dramatic circumstances less than an hour before they travelled to Macedonia, the central defender followed the ensuing plot from afar.

Now as a result of the 3-2 defeat, there is no margin of error left for Ireland and the consequence of that is that the need for cool, mature heads in the team, grows more urgent with each consecutive game.

McGrath, who recovered sufficiently from an achilles tendon problem to play for Derby County against Manchester United on Saturday, is aware that the circumstances of his withdrawal, have led to a lot of speculation. But he emphatically denies that it was anything other than the injury which caused him to pull out of the squad.

"I have been told that various explanations are being given for my withdrawal and that annoys me, he said. "If these people have any doubts, let them ask the Irish team doctor.

"He will inform them that my achilles started to play up after I had trained with the squad at Clonshaugh. That's the reason why I couldn't travel to Macedonia - it's as simple as that."

McGrath reported no problems after training with the team on Saturday morning but claims that he suffered a reaction later in the day and was unavailable for training on Sunday.

Jim Smith, the Derby manager, confirms that it was only after a fitness test on Friday that McGrath was confirmed as a starter for the meeting with Manchester United and, significantly, there were a couple of occasions during the game when the Irishman appeared to be less than 100 per cent fit.

Inevitably, the scoreline in Skopje merely had the effect of focusing renewed interest on the McGrath incident as the quest for scapegoats intensified in the hours immediately after the game.

Mick McCarthy, still attempting to come to terms with the crushing disappointment of it all, declines to add to his original statement that the central defender was withdrawn after talks late on Sunday evening and again, immediately before the party set out for Macedonia.

Neither will be elaborate on his team plans for an even more difficult task against Romania, beyond saying that he is still considering his options in the wake of the loss of Jason McAteer and Alan, McLoughlin.

McLoughlin is headed for a one match suspension after two bookings but depending on the referee's report and whether he cites McAteer for violent play in the incident which led to the Liverpool player's sending off in injury time, the punishment could be more severe.

Ray Houghton, the Crystal Palace player who was originally selected in the squad for Skopje and then withdrew after stating that he was unhappy with his level of fitness, will almost certainly be awarded one of the midfield vacancies.

And it may well be that Jeff Kenna, Blackburn's valuable utility player who has been included in the majority of McCarthy's team selections, will be given the job of running the right side of midfield in place of McAteer.

McCarth's problems don't end there, of course, for the front line problems exposed yet again last Wednesday, are as acute. And Andy Townsend continues to leave a lot of questions unanswered in central midfield.

Significantly, Gareth Farrelly took over Townsend's role in Aston Villa's team for their 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday and ultimately, he is also likely to get his job in the national team. But given the fraught state of Ireland's challenge for a place in the World Cup finals, this is scarcely the opportune time to close the book of Townsend's international career.

Likewise, Tony Cascarino was a long way off his best form in Skopje and in this instance, the manager will almost certainly be looking at the alternative of bringing back Niall Quinn. The striker came on as a substitute for Sunderland against Newcastle on Saturday after a four month lay off with a knee injury.