With yesterday's confirmation of Belgrade as the venue for the Republic of Ireland's European championship meeting with Belgrade on November 18th, the countdown is now officially under way for Mick McCarthy's biggest test of the year.

That Ireland would be headed for Belgrade was always likely after UEFA had given the all clear for FK Partizan's Cup Winners' Cup game against Lazio to be played there on Thursday.

McCarthy will, therefore, not have been unduly distressed by yesterday's announcement. More problematic is the difficult public relations exercise he will have to undertake when insisting on the implementation of FIFA's five-day rule, which governs the release of players for competitive international games.

Although November 18th is an official international date, England have no European championship commitment on that date and as such there is a full Premiership programme scheduled for the previous Saturday.

Now with the confirmation of of the Belgrade date, the Ireland manager finds himself in the situation of having to risk the goodwill which he has carefully nurtured with English club managers since taking control of the national team.

Despite some evidence of resentment on the part of club managers over re-scheduled matches, McCarthy insists there can be no exceptions in his plans to assemble the squad in Dublin on the Saturday before the game.

"If, for example, I were to allow players to stay with their clubs for games on the Saturday, it would put me in an impossible situation with clubs like Coventry and Derby County.

"Coventry play Everton on the Sunday while Derby are away to Notts Forest the following evening, and to be consistent, I would have to permit Gary Breen, Lee Carsley and Rory Delap to stay behind.

"I do, of course, have sympathy for the clubs. As a former club manager, myself, I once lost my goalkeeper, Kasey Keller for a fortnight, because the American Federation needed him.

"Club managers can do without added problems like that. But those in charge of national teams also have responsibilities. And the bottom line in this instance, is that I need all my players in Dublin on November 14th."

Alex Ferguson, whose goodwill is vital in an Ireland context, will not be hugely impressed by McCarthy's stance, in as much as it will force him to go without Roy Keane and Dennis Irwin for Manchester United's game against Blackburn.

In this instance, however, the scales are reasonably balanced since the Blackburn pair, Jeff Kenna and Damien Duff will also be required to present themselves in Dublin at the start of the preparations for the Yugoslavia game.

Liverpool, who play Leeds United, must do without Jason McAteer and Steve Staunton. As yet, there is still some doubt about the comeback appearance of Phil Babb who is said to be almost fully recovered from the back injury which has kept him out since the game against Chelsea on October 4th.

With Gary Kelly still unavailable, Ian Harte is likely to be the only Leeds player involved, although judged on recent developments, it cannot be long before the name of 18-year-old Stephen Mcphail begins to figure in McCarthy's calculations.

Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager, finds himself in the position of having to provide players for both countries. Mark Kinsella is certain, it seems, to keep his place in midfield for Ireland and the likelihood is that he will be facing clubmate Sasa Ilic, who is Yugoslavia's first choice goalkeeper.

Robbie Keane's recuperation from knee surgery, means there will be at least one chance in the list of forwards going to Belgrade but all the signs are that Keith O'Neill, now back playing again for Norwich, will be included when the squad is announced next Tuesday.