NEWS: Mick McCarthy's options for this week's friendly international against Denmark dwindled somewhat yesterday when he lost Andy O'Brien, Lee Carsley and, most likely, Gary Breen from what had originally been a 25-man panel.
With news of Breen's withdrawal expected from Coventry City today after the player failed to appear for yesterday's 1-1 draw against Birmingham due to a hamstring injury, McCarthy's squad was almost certainly down to 19 by last night, although he will not make a final tally until today.
Of the 10 players present for yesterday's first training session, Jason McAteer was sidelined by a thigh strain. Of more significance, though, was the confirmed loss of O'Brien (ankle) and Carsley (knee), while Kevin Kilbane's unavailability had been confirmed soon after the end of Sunderland's game with Southampton on Saturday afternoon, when a knock to the head left him with a suspected case of mild concussion.
McCarthy said last night that he will weigh up his options this morning before making any decisions on calling in additional cover, but Manchester United's John O'Shea may well be added to a squad that now has just three centre halves.
Of those, Steve Staunton is expected to captain the side with Kenny Cunningham and Richard Dunne both available to partner him. If Breen's absence is confirmed, though, O'Shea, already part of the under-21 squad, would be a logical addition to the senior panel.
St Patrick's Athletic, meanwhile, look likely to take their time before reacting to Friday's decision by the Eircom League to dock them 15 points for playing an unregistered player - Charles Mbabazi Livingstone - in the first five league games of the season.
The club, who play Bohemians at Richmond Park this evening, have until the middle of the week to appeal. After former Bohemians manager Roddy Collins claimed yesterday to have forged the signatures of two of his double-winning team on registration forms, they may wait to see if there are any initiatives to defuse the situation from other quarters before taking action themselves.
