Still intent, it seems, on seizing any opportunities that might arise to remind his critics of the contribution an implausibly long injury list made to his darkest days to date as Ireland manager, Steve Staunton reacted yesterday to the inevitable question regarding how he is fixed this time around with a fatalistic shrug and the observation that: "it wouldn't be a squad without injuries, would it?"

As the countdown to Saturday's game against Wales gets into full swing the Louthman is, however, a great deal better off than when the games against The Netherlands or Cyprus were looming last autumn. He is, for that matter, significantly less handicapped than his opposite number this week with all of what might be regarded as Ireland's key players coming safely through their most recent programme of club games and most playing a full part in yesterday's historic first training session at Croke Park.

Wayne Henderson, who hasn't featured for Preston North End since returning from international duty in San Marino last month and who would have expected nothing more than to have provided cover for Shay Given against Wales, is definitely out of Saturday's game due to a torn ligament in his thumb. Birmingham City's Colin Doyle was due to arrive in Dublin last night as his replacement.

Otherwise, though, things look relatively good for Staunton who expects his only real injury concerns, Paul McShane and Stephen Ireland, to recover from ankle problems picked up at the weekend sufficiently well by tomorrow afternoon that they will be able to take part in the squad's third training session of the week.

"Wayne's definitely out," said the Ireland manager. "He wouldn't have been able to train until Thursday or Friday and even then there would have been no guarantee that he'd have been right so he's gone home.

"Paul McShane, obviously you saw the game on Sunday when he went over on his ankle but I fully expect him to train on Thursday. Likewise with Stephen Ireland," he continued, "who is on his way over after getting treatment at Manchester City for a similar injury. We expect him to be able to train on Thursday too."

In fact, only 15 players took part in the entirety of yesterday's run out in bitterly cold conditions but most of those who settled for huddling together in the dugout as the press filed in for the closing 15 minutes were just taking things easy after games on Sunday or Monday, the exception being Stephen Hunt who was nursing a minor foot injury after catching another player awkwardly in a challenge.

"The players who played since Saturday and have been playing regularly just did 40 to 45 minutes," explained Staunton as concern was expressed about the fact that Lee Carsley, Richard Dunne and Steve Finnan had been amongst those watching from the sidelines as the bulk of the squad played a game of eight against seven in an area of no more than 40 metres by 30 in the centre of the stadium's vast playing surface.

Even the pitch for Saturday's game looked rather minuscule yesterday and before the weekend advertising hoardings are to be moved closed to the sidelines in order to frame things a little better. Staunton, though, insisted that it will be almost identical in its dimensions to the one at Lansdowne Road where international games were generally played on a pitch measuring 105 metres by 69.

"It'll be one metre shorter, that's all," he said. "We felt and Uefa agreed with us that we should do that because of where the 20 metre lines are, if they had to be blacked out it would be very confusing for the goalkeepers."

While the Irish familiarised themselves with their temporary home the Welsh were being put through their paces prior to travelling by John Toshack who suffered a significant if not entirely unexpected blow yesterday when it was confirmed that West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon will not be fit for either Saturday's game or the one against San Marino next Wednesday.

"It is very disappointing for me to miss the games," said the 27- year-old who has been out of action with a groin strain since January. " I was looking forward to them, particularly the first soccer match at Croke Park against the Irish."

His West Ham team-mate, James Collins is reckoned to be fit enough to play in Dublin after completing 90 minutes at the weekend but West Brom's Jason Koumas is suspended while Robert Earnshaw and Mark Delaney are ruled out by groin and ankle problems respectively.

The visitors, meanwhile, have returned around 1,500 tickets for the game, but still have 4,000 travelling. A spokesman for the FAI said yesterday the tickets would be distributed to those on a waiting list.