The worst came to the worst for Gary Kelly yesterday when he learned that a recurring problem with his shins will keep him out for the rest of the season.

He has been told by a specialist that prolonged rest is needed to repair the damage which first surfaced in Leeds United's pre-season game against Liverpool at Lansdowne Road last July.

Among other things, it means that he will not be involved in the remainder of the Republic of Ireland's European Championship qualifying programme, a setback which Mick McCarthy regards as substantial.

For Leeds manager David O'Leary, the news is more disappointing as his options in defence have dwindled considerably.

In the space of the last month, he has lost two other defenders, Martin Hiden and Robert Molenaar, with long-term injuries and was looking to Kelly's early return to solve one of the problems.

Alan Maybury, who took Kelly's place after he had broken down during a warm-up routine for the reserve team game against Everton at Elland Road on Monday evening, is thought to need another three or four games to regain full fitness after sustaining an identical injury to Kelly's during the summer.

McCarthy, who will assemble his squad next Sunday for the meeting with Paraguay at Lansdowne Road three days later, confirmed yesterday that Kenny Cunningham and Mark Kinsella have been given permission to delay their arrival in Dublin.