Brian Kerr appears to have won his battle with the English clubs who had been threatening to withhold members of his under-20 panel for next month's World Championships in Nigeria.

Yesterday Wolves gave the go-ahead for Robbie Keane to play in the tournament in which Ireland will initially face Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Wolves had wanted to keep the 18-year-old striker during the tournament but the English First Division side have agreed to release him.

Last week, FIFA made it clear any clubs who refused to let their players take part could face suspension from their competitions.

Everton and Leeds had already backed down on Tuesday on their threats not to release their players but yesterday Wolves gave Keane, who could miss up to six League matches, the go-ahead.

On Tuesday, Leeds indicated that they were willing to release Stephen McPhail and Damien Lynch and Everton have now effectively conceded defeat in their campaign to hold on to Dean Delaney and Richard Dunne.

The club, who had been preventing the players from having the inoculations required for the trip, have said that they will allow the players themselves to decide whether they travel or not.

"I'm glad the situation appears to have been resolved," said Kerr yesterday. "I think a big factor, though, is that the sanctions threatened by FIFA last week are having an effect." Kerr's pre-departure problems are hardly over though as he has a couple of injury problems to contend with - one of which could prevent Dunne from travelling.

The Everton defender pulled a hamstring in last weekend's defeat by Arsenal and Kerr reckons that the Dubliner has little chance of being fit.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Alan Quinn is another doubt with a fractured bone in his foot.