SOCCER: Roy Keane sought to take responsibility yesterday for this week's spat between the Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens and Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes by claiming the situation was the result of confusion, "which stemmed from my end, really".

Stokes had angered Givens by failing either to join the squad that was travelling to Furth for Tuesday's friendly with Germany or to inform the manager he was unavailable. Givens expressed particular surprise that the player had been in Dublin when they spoke by phone rather than with his club receiving treatment for the groin strain he said lay at the heart of his withdrawal.

During their conversation Stokes suggested Keane had said he would look after things last Saturday when the decision was taken he would not be able to play for the under-21s and Keane has now backed his player's version of events, at least partially.

"It's a mix-up in communication," said the Sunderland manager yesterday. "I've spoken to Don and he is fine about it, it won't happen again. He (Stokes) had a problem with his groin and I thought he would go over there, report in and see the medical staff. He thought he hadn't to do that and didn't get in touch with anyone."

Keane, however, was subsequently quoted in the Sunderland Echo as providing the paper with a fractionally different take on events. "Anthony was expecting us to get in touch with the under-21s to explain the situation," he is reported as saying.

"We were expecting Anthony to let them know anyway."

In both instances, Keane insists it was an oversight on the part of the club that will not be repeated. He also says the situation with Givens has been "resolved" although not to the extent, it seems, required for Stokes to be called into the squad for the forthcoming European Championship qualifier against Portugal at Turner's Cross on September 7th which the Ireland manager named yesterday.

Predictably, perhaps, Givens has chosen to stick with the players who were in Furth where the Irish earned a highly creditable 2-2 draw with their hosts.

"We were very happy with the performance and the result in Germany," he said as he named his squad of 18 in Cork yesterday. "We had four new faces in the squad for that game, all of whom are in the squad again for the Portugal match. We have also introduced another three new players into this squad, so that shows the talent that is coming through."

Among the players included are Darren O'Dea of Celtic, Charlton goalkeeper Darren Randolph and Tuesday's hero, Stephen Gleeson of Wolves.

Keane, meanwhile, confirmed that senior international left back Ian Harte has been training with Sunderland for the past three days and may sign for the club. The 29-year-old is a free agent having parted company with his Spanish club, Levante, by mutual consent.

"Harty has been here since Tuesday," Keane said. "The quality he's got is there for everybody to see and he has settled in here. We'll monitor it and we'll probably have news in the next 48 hours, we're looking to make a decision."

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDER-21 SQUAD:Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Quigley (UCD), Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), O'Dea (Celtic), Keogh (Bristol City), Dennehy (Everton), O'Halloran (Aston Villa), Powell (Bohemians), Gleeson (Wolves), Cregg (Falkirk), Quinn (Sheffield United), McFaul (UCD), Collins (Huddersfield Town), Treacy (Blackburn Rovers), Rooney (Stoke City), O'Brien (Celtic), Clarke (Ipswich Town), Sammon (UCD).