Ray Houghton has been excluded from the squad of 20 players from which Mick McCarthy will select the Republic of Ireland team to meet Yugoslavia in Belgrade a week on Saturday.

Together with Curtis Fleming, the Middlesbrough full back, Houghton is surplus to requirements on this occasion after being recalled unexpectedly for the opening European Championship game against Croatia.

Some will see in his exclusion the irrefutable evidence that the curtain has finally fallen for the man who was so closely identified with Ireland's golden years, but McCarthy is not among their number.

"I spoke with Raymond shortly after the World Cup play-off in Brussels last year and we both agreed that as long as he was involved in club football on a regular basis, he would be available for specific games," said McCarthy.

"It was never the intention that he would be involved in all our matches, but on those occasions when his experience and general know-how could benefit the team he would come and join us.

"From where I stand that is still the situation, and there may well be times when it will be to our mutual benefit to bring him back into the squad."

That is interpreted as having the midfielder on stand-by for home games when his presence on the bench would, depending on the state of the match, offer McCarthy an extra attacking option.

In the meantime, Houghton is supplementing his commitments at Crystal Palace by taking an FA coaching course with a view to remaining in football when his marathon playing career eventually ends.

The other big talking point in the squad is the promotion of Rory Delap, who is in contention to play his first competitive international game after a series of impressive performances for Derby County in the English Premiership.

After figuring in all three of the European warm-up games at the end of the season, Delap was rerouted to the under-21 squad against Croatia. But he now surfaces again as an important backup player.

Apart from his versatility, which broadens McCarthy's options in emergencies, Delap's competitive instincts impress the manager. "He's a big lad who competes hard, and that is an important quality in any player," he said.

"On those occasions when I went to watch him, I was impressed by the way he handled a variety of jobs, and I've no doubt that, if he's needed in Belgrade, he will not be found wanting."

With Alan Kelly still only recovering from injury, Dean Kiely of Bury will again provide the goalkeeping cover for Shay Given. Niall Quinn, as expected, gets the front-line vacancy caused by Keith O'Neill's continuing fitness problems.

David Connolly, suspended for the Yugoslav fixture, will be in the frame for the meeting with Malta four days later. But, for the present, the pertinent question is whether Quinn will be preferred to Robbie Keane if, as anticipated, the manager opts to go with only one specialist forward in Belgrade.

As yet there is no hint of McCarthy's thoughts on the matter, although the consensus is that Quinn's greater experience and physical presence may well sway the vote in his favour.

Kevin Kilbane is the only senior international named in the under-21 squad to meet Yugoslavia at Zrenjanin, some 50 miles from Belgrade, on the eve of the senior game. Also included are Barry Quinn and two members of St Patrick's Athletic's championship team, Colin Hawkins and Thomas Morgan.

Tickets for Ireland's game against Malta at Lansdowne Road on October 14th will be on sale at the FAI offices in Merrion Square, Dublin, from next Monday. Tickets can also be purchased by credit card on 01 6627826 or 01 6627828.

Tickets for the under-21 European qualifier against Malta at Arklow Town FC on October 13th will not be on sale at the FAI offices. Instead they will be available at outlets in Arklow town, Wicklow, Bray, Gorey, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Tullow.

Republic Of Ireland Squad: Given (Newcastle United), Kiely (Bury), Irwin (Man United), Kenna (Blackburn), Staunton (Liverpool), Harte (Leeds), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Babb (Liverpool), Breen (Coventry), Keane (Man United), Kinsella (Charlton), McLoughlin (Portsmouth), Carsley (Derby), McAteer (Liverpool), Kennedy (Wimbledon), Cascarino (Nancy), Quinn (Sunderland), Duff (Blackburn), Keane (Wolves), Delap (Derby).