THE prognosis regarding the Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend improved significantly yesterday. The Aston Villa physiotherapist Jim Walker estimated that the 33-year-old midfielder should have recovered from the back injury which sidelined him from his club's 4-3 defeat at Newcastle on Monday night in time for the World Cup qualifier against FYR Macedonia this day week.

"His injury has improved greatly over the last couple of days - though not enough to play last night," Walker said yesterday. "If Aston Villa had a game on Saturday I'm almost sure he'd be fit to play."

The apparent upturn regarding the latest news of Townsend's health will have come as a relief to Irish manager Mick McCarthy, who attended last night's English second division game between Watford and Preston North End to assess David Connolly's first full game since the opening day of the season. In the event, he saw little of the player, as was substituted after just 28 minutes, but it is not clear as to the reason for his early withdrawal.

McCarthy will await the outcome of tonight's remaining Nationwide League games before deciding to make any amendments to his original 20-man squad the only withdrawal so far having been Roy Keane. The good news for MeCarthy from last night's matches was the fact that Keith O'Neill was on target in Norwich City's 4-1 win at Grimsby.