HE'S BACK, at long, long last. Watching Gary Kelly in training in Bucharest this week, you'd hardly think he's been away. Yet, incredibly, it's been 17 months since he last played a full game for the Republic of Ireland.

His last full appearance was in Jack Charlton's swan-song defeat against Holland in the Euro `96 play-off. Though only 22, at times since Kelly must have wondered if it would be his own swan-song as well. It did not seem likely then that it would be 14 games into Mick McCarthy's reign before Kelly returned to the starting line-up.

But one 38-minute appearance as a substitute in last February's scoreless draw with Wales apart, Kelly has been on the outside looking in, watching Ireland on Ceefax would you believe. This is his second coming, and he could hardly be happier.

"There have been a lot of changes since I played against Holland at Anfield, a lot of new players have come on to the scene and a lot of games have gone by.

"It's great to be back and I feel as if I've never been away, but I'd be the first to admit that I did miss the involvement. I enjoyed the two years I had under Jack when I went to the World Cup finals and I got into the team."

He broke into the side as a fearless 19-year-old alongside his regular side-kicks, Jason McAteer and Phil Babb, and the conservative Charlton was obliged to give him 18 caps. The three amigos stole the show at USA `94 but ironically, McAteer is now suspended while Babb, also on the periphery of the squad, is incommunicado.

There were signs that McCarthy was not keen on Kelly. Perhaps the Leeds full-back did not do himself any favours by taking a rest from football at the end of last season when McCarthy assumed command.

But in a game which places increasing stress on players, Kelly had become physically spent after almost two years of non-stop football.

"I had to accept that if I took a rest, which I badly needed, then if the players Mick brought in did well he was going to stick with them. That was the risk I was taking when I asked for a break and there were no problems with that."

Kelly's return is particularly timely. He can instil a freshness into the squad when things are at a low ebb. Perhaps he had the best view of the last game. "I watched the Macedonian match on Ceefax and felt happy when I saw that Alan McLoughlin had put us ahead, so when we ended up losing 3-2 it was a real shock."

Back in the fold, he brings with him his innate self-confidence "I fancy us to go and beat the Romanians." But he admits that the magnitude of the task is considerable. "The Romanians have scored 19 goals in five games which is scary, so the first thing to do is keep a clean sheet."

However he is employed, Kelly seems likely to be a central part of that strategy. McCarthy has intimated strongly that he will provide a shield of five across the middle in front of an orthodox back four, with particular emphasis on double-manning the flanks where the Romanians do much of their raiding.

The thinking is that Kelly and Mark Kennedy will attempt to support the lone front-runner from the flanks while also providing cover for Jeff Kenna and Denis Irwin the best and most experienced left back in the squad who will surely be employed there after Terry Phelan's skinning in Skopje.

McCarthy intimated on Monday that he could use Kelly to man-mark Gheorghe Hagi, although the manager stressed that is more an option for during the game that at the outset. "I won't be starting out with that instruction (for Kelly)."

Nevertheless, it is an option which Kelly admits has already been looked at in training and one he has done before. "We've worked a bit on shadow play in training and I filled that role before with Leeds when the boss (George Graham) asked me to follow Paul Merson's every move in our FA Cup win over Arsenal.

"If I'm asked to do that job then I'll do my best because it's something that's different from your normal game. You're not so keen on playing well yourself but more interested in going out to stop someone else from playing.

"If you're asked to man-mark someone then you're not too bothered about the ball. You simply concentrate on stopping your opponent and when we get the ball it's tip to you to get involved. Make no mistake, it's a hard job, especially when it's against world-class players. You've got to be up for it."

It helps that his club form is now better than at any stage in his absence from the Irish team, even if that has coincided with a return to a right full-back role in a regulation back four.

"I reckon I'm playing consistently well at the moment and have been doing well at the back, which makes life easier. We've chalked up 21 clean sheets since the new gaffer arrived so you've got to be happy with that as a defender.

"If we could nick a few more goals then we could shoot up the table and since we've gone back to four at the back I think we've looked even more solid. It's the best system we can play at the moment."