Mick McCarthy had at least one of his selection dilemmas for Wednesday's world cup qualifier against Andorra resolved for him yesterday when it was confirmed that Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane would not be travelling home for this week's game.
Keane, who was reported by Alex Ferguson after Saturday's derby game to have a hamstring problem, was one of three players to be withdrawn by their clubs because of injuries over the weekend with Sunderland's Niall Quinn and Rory Delap of Derby County, who have back and ankle problems respectively, also out of the reckoning. In their places the Republic of Ireland boss has drafted in Gareth Farrelly, Barry Quinn and Dominic Foley.
Given that he had repeatedly suggested he might not play Keane this week because of the risk that a booking would mean the Corkman being suspended for the visit of Portugal in June, McCarthy may not see the loss of Keane as too great a blow. In addition to the midfielder, Robbie Keane, Kenny Cunningham and Jason McAteer are all carrying one yellow card into the game and McCarthy has hinted a number of times, he might rest them rather than risk their availability for what looks like being a crucial game in Ireland's qualification campaign.
But Quinn's absence will once again narrow the options up front against a team whose tightly packed defence forced the Ireland manager into an early change of approach in last month's game in Barcelona.
After announcing the changes to his panel, which also now includes Gary Kelly following the withdrawal during the week of Lee Carsley, McCarthy said that Quinn's back injury "is part of his ongoing problem. It's unfortunate that it seems to be back, affecting him badly at the moment."
FAI Chief Executive Bernard O'Byrne, meanwhile, is again expected to come under strong pressure to resign his position today when the association's directors meet in Dublin to consider a report into the handling of his financial dealings with his employers.
A report into the matter by a specially appointed four man subcommittee, which is believed to contain new allegations regarding O'Byrne's affairs, was considered by the association's finance committee yesterday after which it was forwarded to this afternoon's meeting.
Last night critics of the chief executive again claimed that his position had become untenable and said that they expected him to go this afternoon and suggested that a deal might be brokered at this morning's meeting of the association's officers. O'Byrne, however, has steadfastly resisted all previous moves aimed at forcing him to step aside.