NIALL QUINN was yesterday ruled out of contention for the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on October 9th. While the results of the scan on the knee Quinn injured against Coventry last Saturday did not suggest he would need an operation, the recuperation process is expected to take about a month.
This is no more than was expected, but Mick McCarthy's problems are exacerbated by more niggling injuries to his, less than extensive striking force. Even Jon Goodman, the Wimbledon front-runner who expects to have obtained his Irish passport by the end of this week, has been sidelined with a groin injury for Wimbledon's last three games, while the Watford youngster David Connolly has still to resume full training.
Goodman confirmed yesterday that "I have all the documentation in place. As soon as the originals are sent over from Ireland, then I can go forward to Grosvenor Place (the Irish Embassy) and it will all go through, so that's not a problem.
"The problem, at the moment anyway, is that I've had an (groin) injury for the last few games. I did it before the West Ham game and came off at halftime, so I don't know if Mick will go with me in the squad because I haven't played for the couple of weeks."
It is a distinctly irritating situation for Goodman, whose father has acquired an Irish passport through his Parents - who hail from Galway. Goodman has been limiting himself to running work and ball work this week, and is mildly optimistic of returning to Wimbledon's first-team squad at Derby on Saturday.
McCarthy, laid low by a virus yesterday, has been kept briefed by his walking wounded up front. Connolly, sidelined since retiring with a hamstring injury in Watford's defeat to Millwall on August 24th, is hoping to give McCarthy a more encouraging report on his hamstring injury when resumes sprinting today.
"I am hoping I'll be fit for Saturday but I'll have a clearer picture in my mind when I train tomorrow. If I can sprint I should be alright as it is I am able to do everything else. To be honest, I am not expecting any favours from Mick but I am doing everything I can to get myself fit," said Connolly.
Of the quintet on duty in Liechtenstein (including Middlesbrough mid-fielder Alan Moore) the transfer-listed David Kelly hasn't even figured on the Sunderland substitutes' bench, Alan Moore has been confined to the bench and occasional appearances in midfield, while Tony Cascarino has been limited to just three appearances for Marseilles this season.
He missed his side's game against Lilles last week due to a calf injury, similar to that which plagued him at USA '94, thereby compounding the aggravated hainstring which has already side-lined him this season. He won't play against Bordeaux this weekend, but is hopeful of returning to the Marseilles squad for next Wednesday's league match with Gueuon.
"I'm hoping the I'll be training fully by the end of this week and then to play, in that match next week," said Cascarino from his home in France in yesterday.
None of which will have been of much comfort to McCarthy yesterday as he attempts to finalise his 20-man squad, to be announced at midday tomorrow. Indeed, in contrast to the rest of his stricken strikers, the front-runner in the best form and health is 38-year-old John Aldridge.
