Mark Kinsella was yesterday added to the list of casualties as Mick McCarthy counted the cost of FIFA's refusal to implement the five day release rule for Ireland's European championship games in Yugoslavia on Wednesday.
Kinsella missed yesterday's training session at Frank Cooke Park, with a "dead" leg after playing in Charlton Athletic's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough on Saturday and is now stated to be uncertain to play in Belgrade.
Also missing from the session because of injuries sustained on Saturday, were Steve Staunton and David Connolly, both of whom will continue to have treatment on the squad's arrival in Belgrade this afternoon.
Earlier, Ian Harte was withdrawn with a foot injury, a legacy of Leeds United's 31 win at Liverpool. Harte, who left Anfield on crutches, is to have an x-ray today and the likelihood is that he will be out for at least a week.
"This was the scenario we dreaded once it became clear that the five day rule was going to be applied," said McCarthy. "Our players are very competitive and the risk of picking up injuries was always there.
"At this point, however, there is no point in looking back. FIFA have made their decision and we'll just have to get on with the job and make the best of what we've got."
His immediate reaction was to summon Curtis Fleming to join the squad but as yet McCarthy is still undecided about the option of bringing Andy Townsend out of international retirement.
That depends, primarily, on Kinsella's progress. In a short international career, just four games, the Charlton player has matured into an influential member of the team, with the priceless ability to hold the ball and distribute well.
In a situation in which the Irish are likely to be under pressure for long periods on Wednesday, those assets were regarded as central to McCarthy's match plan and as such, the problem is acute.
With Lee Carsley already lost to injury, the original blueprint for midfield is now in danger of having to be scrapped and it will heighten the pressure on the manager to look again at the feasibility of inviting Townsend to rejoin the fold.
"When I spoke with Andy earlier in the week, he told me that I only had to make a call and he'd come and that's nice to know," said McCarthy.
Townsend, who announced that he was opting out of the Ireland squad to give younger players a chance after the World Cup playoff against Belgium at Brussels last December is enjoying a good season with Middlesbrough.
To bring him back now, however, would be to risk sending out all the wrong signals to those already in the squad and, in particular, Alan McLoughlin whose loyalty is again being put under strain after being made to sit out the last four games.
Definitely out of the reckoning, however, is Robbie Keane who, in spite of playing the last 14 minutes of Wolves' game against Norwich on Saturday, is not considered sufficiently recovered from recent knee surgery to warrant inclusion in the travelling party for Belgrade.
Fleming's call-up gives McCarthy cover right across the back where, Staunton's injury notwithstanding, the biggest doubt continues to be Gary Breen. Breen was on the bench for Coventry City's game against Everton yesterday after undergoing further treatment on a back injury on Saturday.
With McCarthy rejecting the opportunity of inviting Alan Kernaghan back from the wilderness, Phil Babb will get the vacancy in centre back if Breen withdraws, scarcely a re-assuring prospect when measured against Babb's lack of match practice.
Thankfully, Kenny Cunningham is ready for action after Wimbledon's game against Chelsea. Commenting on last week's events in the wake of FIFA's ruling, Cunningham said: "It wasn't until Thursday evening that I found out what was happening. I spoke with Joe Kinnear earlier in the day and he seemed upset that he was being singled out for the blame for Ireland's problems."
A change in the under-21 squad sees the recall of the Cork City defender, Derek Coughlan. He owes his chance to the absence of Colin Hawkins, out with a damaged back.
