SOCCER/International news: Brian Kerr's midfield malaise ahead of Saturday's opening World Cup game against Cyprus at Lansdowne Road worsened yesterday when Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller had to return to his club to receive further treatment on a torn calf muscle.

The 23-year-old was a strong contender to earn his sixth cap and a first competitive start for Ireland in the absence of Roy Keane and Matt Holland but, after reporting to the Irish team's north Dublin base late on Tuesday evening, it was agreed yesterday that he return to Old Trafford as he would be unable to play any part in either this game or next Wednesday's match in Switzerland.

The Ireland manager confirmed the news yesterday afternoon in a brief statement, remarking that: "Liam Miller has been sent back to Manchester for treatment and will miss the two games so I've called in Graham Barrett."

There was some positive news, however, with Kerr also confirming that "Gary Breen, Alan Quinn and Paddy Kenny all came in and are okay for the game".

After hearing of his call-up, Barrett said it was great news although tempered by the fact that his opportunity comes at the expense of one of his closest friends.

"It's a great honour," said the Coventry City player. "It's always been a big thing for me to be called up in the past but the fact that this is a competitive game makes it particularly special. I'm still very disappointed for Liam, though, it's a blow that he's not involved.

"Not to be included in the first place was disappointing," he added, "but you have to accept these things. There's a lot of competition, a lot of good players and you just have to wait for the chances to come along."

Although far from ruled out yet, Shay Given was another player to skip training yesterday but there was no comment from the Irish camp as to whether the Newcastle goalkeeper is struggling with any sort of injury.

The team's morning session went more or less to plan otherwise, although Steve Finnan took a knock to his knee during the five-a-side game which John O'Shea sat out.

Also rested were the players who had just arrived from England having played in league games on Tuesday.

There is nothing as yet to suggest that Given will have any problem being fit for Saturday afternoon's game and it is to be hoped that Finnan, who could well look an attractive option for the Ireland manager on the right side of midfield given the number of problems he has in that department, will recover quickly from the injury-ground knock.

Clinton Morrison, meanwhile, suffered another blow to his prospects of establishing himself as a first team regular at Birmingham City late on Tuesday evening when Birmingham City signed former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke from Blackburn Rovers.

The 33-year-old had been a target for Celtic manager Martin O'Neill but the Scottish club said yesterday that it recognised that the player had opted to stay south of the border for "football reasons".

That decision would appear to be a major setback for Morrison who had already found himself behind another new arrival, Emile Heskey, in Steve Bruce's pecking order since the summer break.