Mick McCarthy's match plan for next week's European Championship qualifier against Yugoslavia in Belgrade was in some disarray yesterday after Lee Carsley was forced to pull out of the tie with a leg injury.

Carsley missed Derby County's win over Liverpool on Saturday with what was described as a "dead" leg, but the damage has since been diagnosed as more serious.

Coupled with the earlier withdrawal of Robbie Keane, it represents a serious setback for McCarthy who was building much of his strategy around the combative Derby player.

Although Carsley did not start in either the Croatian or Maltese matches, he was expected to be deployed as a fifth midfielder in what will be primarily a holding operation in Belgrade. To that extent, Carsley's absence is all the more worrying and McCarthy is not attempting to disguise his sense of loss.

"I think it's an open secret that I intended to use Lee in next week's game," he said. "He is a strong, competitive player who will always put his foot in, just the type we need for an assignment such as this. "I am, of course, disappointed for the lad but even more concerned about the knock-on effects for the team." Among the options available to McCarthy are the recall of Alan McLoughlin and the deployment of Roy Keane in a deeper midfield role. Alternatively, he could gamble on Carsley's clubmate Rory Delap, still only making his way in international football but possessed with a physical presence which impresses McCarthy. As yet, it is still not clear if he will gamble on Phil Babb when he announces his squad this morning. Babb has not played since sliding into a goalpost during Liverpool's Premiership game against Chelsea on October 4th, although he could be in line for a place in the Liverpool team to face Tottenham in tonight's English League Cup game at Anfield.

McCarthy was in contact with Liverpool officials at the weekend but, significantly, he declined to confirm if he would include Babb in the squad. "Phil is fit, in the sense that he has no injuries, and will be available for selection," he said.

Problems of a different kind have surfaced for those charged with making arrangements for players, officials and the estimated 1,000 supporters expected to travel to Belgrade. It emerged yesterday that visas issued for the postponed game on October 10th may not now be valid. Coupled with this is the imposition of a £24 landing charge for people arriving in Belgrade.

"It's unacceptable that we learn of extra landing charges just eight days before the game, but my biggest concern is that the visas issued for the original game may not now be valid, even though the Yugsolav authorities promised they would," said Ray Treacy, the FAI's official travel agent.

"I have been in touch with the Yugoslav embassy in London about the matter but, as yet, I haven't been able to obtain confirmation that the visas are still in order." Meanwhile, the first opposition to the FAI's insistence on implementing FIFA'a five-day release clause came from West Brom yesterday. They contend that they need Kevin Kilbane for an important game and have asked the FAI to allow them to have the player and then make the necessary arrangements for his arrival Yugoslavia where he is expected to play in the under-21 European Championship meeting between the countries.

The Schoolboy Football Association's refusal to select players attached to English clubs in Ireland's under-15 teams yesterday led to a sharp rebuke and a change of policy by the FAI.

In a sharply worded statement, the FAI said that they would directly administer and organise all international football at schoolboy level in future.

In recent games Vincent Butler, the under-15 manager, has opted for local talent. This is intended to encourage those who chose to stay at home but the FAI believe that this policy is counter productive and weakens the team's chances of success.

Bolton's Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keith Branagan, 32, faces a three-month stint on the sidelines after undergoing a hernia operation.