Barcelona striker Marc Overmars expects to be fit to play in The Netherlands' World Cup Group Two qualifier against Ireland on September 2nd.
Overmars injured his left knee last week but said yesterday: "I was able to put everything into training and I have felt no setbacks, so I think I can play on Saturday." The problems for his team-mate Boudewijn Zenden seem more serious. The Dutch international winger suffered ligament damage in a pre-season Barcelona friendly on Saturday, and was subsequently ruled out for a month by the club doctor.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has already excluded Edgar Davids from his squad, as the Juventus midfielder is still recovering from a leg operation.
Meanwhile Bohemians confirmed last night that they have agreed a deal with their UEFA Cup opponents Kaiserslautern to reverse the order of their forthcoming European game.
The first leg of the tie will now take place in Dublin at 5 p.m. on Monday, 11th September, with the second game following a week ahead of schedule on Thursday, 21st September.
The change from the scheduled dates will allow German television to cover the games of all five German clubs involved in the competition
The first leg between the two clubs will be carried on either the ZDF or ARD channel. Bohemians hope to tie up the financial arrangements with the organisation that owns both stations today, with the fee expected to run well into six figures. Meanwhile, a shock awaited Brian Kerr and his Republic of Ireland Under-18 squad when they arrived in Dusseldorf yesterday for their two friendly matches with Germany.
When the Irish party touched down there was no trace of their playing gear. "Luckily I told the players to take their boots out of their luggage before we left Dublin and carry them as hand luggage," Kerr said. To add to Kerr's problems, the Irish manager had to make a number of changes to his original panel. Six players, goalkeeper Barry Roche (Nottingham Forest) and Colin Larkin (Wolves) have been withdrawn by their clubs while Niall Hudson, Anthony Shevelin and Anthony Reid (Nottingham Forest) and Alan McDermott of Manchester United are out injured.
As cover Kerr has called up goalkeeper Brian Murphy (Manchester City), Ken Coleman (Wolves), Alan Cawley (Leeds United), Robert Martin (UCD), Mark Rossiter (Sunderland), JJ Melligan (Wolves) and Declan Field (Celtic).
Ireland play their first game against the Germans this evening in Gutersloh (5.15) and the second game in Warendorf on Thursday (7.15).