ROY steps in again, Roy steps out again. In what has long since become a repetitive scenario, no sooner was Roy Keane once more recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad by Mick McCarthy yesterday than, literally within the hour, the Irish manager was learning of Keane's probable withdrawal again.

The 25 year old has been injury prone these last two years - the product perhaps of both his and the English game's intensity over the last eight years - and the jinx manifested itself again on Wednesday night when he suffered a dead leg in Manchester United's 2-0 European Champions' League win over Rapid Vienna.

According to reports emanating from England as yet unsubstantiated by Old Trafford or by extension the FAI and McCarthy Keane could be sidelined for two to three weeks and has been advised to rest after his leg became swollen overnight.

Significantly, given Alex Ferguson's track record on this issue, if Keane is ruled out of United's game at home to Tottenham on Sunday, then technically they are entitled to withdraw him from the Irish squad.

Keane last played for the Republic in McCarthy's opening game as manager, the 2-0 defeat by Russia in a friendly in Dublin last March, when he was sent off. All told he has missed 16 of the Republic's last 20 encounters.

Suspensions, injuries, a difference of opinion with McCarthy, and more injuries (in that order) means that Keane could now miss his ninth successive international, a script too dog eared for McCarthy to contemplate again.

I haven't heard anything official from Manchester United. It will be a disappointment if he is again not available as I know Roy wants to perform and show what type of player he is at international level," said McCarthy yesterday.

McCarthy must henceforth be tempted to wrap Keane in cotton wool whenever he announces a squad.

In other respects, too, McCarthy's latest offering for the October 9th World Cup qualifier against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia falls along eminently predictable lines.

Gone are the early days of experimentation. The Republic of Ireland squad has now taken a definitive shape all of it's own.

You're either in, as again are 15 of the 20 on duty against Liechtenstein, or you're out, as are former luminaries like Paul McGrath and Gary Kelly.

Aside from Keane, Ol Man River himself, John Aldridge, is restored in place of the injured Niall Quinn, with Gareth Farrelly rerouted to the under 21 squad in notionally accommodating the return of the prodigal Keane.

Like Keane, Aldridge hasn't played since the Russian game, and last scored against Latvia 12 months ago when his brace took him to within one goal of Frank Stapleton's 20 goal record for the Republic.

It's a case of needs must for McCarthy as well as a compliment to the durability of the 38 year old striker, joint leading scorer in the First Division this season with eight goals, taking his career tally to 452.

"I boosted his confidence by telling him I've got four strikers injured and I'd like him to come along," quipped McCarthy, who also said: Aldo's been scoring goals, hasn't he? You can't argue with that, and he's been playing regularly."

Which, alas, could not be said for the injured, and hence omitted, Niall Quinn, David Connolly and Jon Goodman, though McCarthy has included Tony Cascarino, whom he hopes to watch for Marseilles next Wednesday pending recovery from a calf strain.

With Alan Moore providing a further option from midfield, the other strikers are Norwich's Keith O'Neill and David Kelly, at least playing regular reserve team football.

The same criteria was not employed in the case of Paul McGrath, primarily because McCarthy is not nearly so thin on resources at centre half. "I watched him (McGrath) when he came on for 20 minutes against Helsinborgs, I thought he did very well, he looked sharp enough but even as Paul admitted yesterday playing 20 minutes at the end of a game is not like playing a full match.

"I phoned Paul and explained it to him. If he was playing in somebody's first team in the Premier League he'd more than likely be in the squad. But also, at some stage, I have to look and see can we manage without him, because that's been a question for the last 10 years.