Rep of Ireland v Switzerland The fitness of another key Irish player for tomorrow's win-or-bust World Cup qualifier against Switzerland was thrown into doubt yesterday as Shay Given picked up a ankle injury at training that could rule him out of the game.

However, concern over the situation subsided slightly last night when a series of tests on the Ireland number one showed that he had not done any significant damage to the bone.

The incident that led to the injury was something of a freak with Given, the Republic's best player in the 1-0 win over Cyprus at the weekend, playing outfield in a six-a-side game at the end of yesterday morning's session. Making up the numbers, after many of the squad had already left the pitch, the goalkeeper was hurt in a tackle by Gary Doherty.

Given was left nursing a sore ankle which he was last night having treatment on although he did get up and walk off the pitch without the need for assistance and he subsequently looked relaxed about the situation at the team hotel.

Manager Brian Kerr initially played down the scale of the problem, remarking that he had "no reason to believe it is serious," and adding that "with two days to go before the game he should be fine to play". But speaking a few minutes later on RTÉ radio the Ireland coach was more circumspect, admitting that he didn't know the extent of damage and saying that it would be assessed "later".

He added that if Shay Given does end up being unavailable then Sheffield United's Paddy Kenny would step in to earn his first competitive international cap.

However, last night there was encouraging news when it was revealed that a scan and X-ray had revealed soft tissue swelling but no bone damage.

"We are," said Kerr once more, "confident that he will be fit to play on Wednesday."

Kenny has been in good form for Sheffield United since the start of the season and the 27-year-old currently looks as fit as at any point in his career having undertaken an extended period of additional training so as to get into better shape.

Still, his lack of top flight experience in England never mind competitive football at this level would obviously be a worry in the event that Given did miss out.

The loss of Given for such a crucial game would be a devastating blow for the Irish as well as a considerable boost to their opponents.

"He's brilliant," was Richard Dunne's rather assessment of the Donegal man yesterday when asked to give his impression of his importance to the side.

"Over the last few years he's established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. On Saturday he was outstanding but then he's been on top form throughout the campaign; he's been a rock for us."

There was a suggestion, meanwhile, that Damien Duff will require keyhole surgery on the damage to the cartilage in his knee he suffered during the second half of Saturday's game.

If confirmed, it could well mean that the Chelsea winger ends up missing out on the play-offs in the event that Ireland do beat Switzerland and end up playing for a place in next summer's finals during mid-November.

There was some better news for Kerr on other fronts yesterday with Stephen Carr showing no signs of the knee problem that has been troubling him during the past week or so and Kevin Kilbane apparently overcoming the dead leg he had suffered in Nicosia to prove his fitness.

Both came through training without any obvious difficulty and though they are continuing to receive attention for the knocks, they are expected to train at Lansdowne Road this morning and be declared fit for the game.

Asked about his team selection for Wednesday and, in particular, whether it would a difficult call to drop Stephen Elliott after the way the young Sunderland striker played in Cyprus, Kerr declined to give anything away but said that as manager, "that's what I'm there for, to make the tough decisions".

If all of his remaining outfield players are fit for tomorrow night, as looks increasingly likely, Kerr has decisions to make in several departments. Clinton Morrison and Andy Reid are back from suspension and both look certain to start, but after the poor form displayed by so many of Saturday night's starters, Matt Holland, Andy O'Brien and Steven Reid all come into firm contention for the final match of the campaign.

"Damien (Duff) will be a huge loss," said Dunne. "I think Chelsea might miss him over the next few weeks so we certainly will, but with Andy Reid coming back and after the way Kevin Kilbane did out on the left on Saturday we have options.

"We'll miss Roy too but with the players that are gone out there's an opportunity for other players to show what they can do creatively."

Dunne is adamant that the team can win again and plays down the importance of the lack of quality displayed on Saturday in Nicosia.

"We're all a bit disappointed with the quality of the performance all right," he said. "But to be fair we did the job we went out there to do . . . we didn't go out there to impress people, we went out there to take three points and we did. Everyone's totally focused now on doing the same again."

Rep of Ireland v Switzerland Lansdowne Rd, tomorrow Kick-off: 7.45