'Mark will play a very big part of the game in Sunderland next Tuesday and I’ve told him that if he is anything less that 100 per cent fit there’s a big doubt about him travelling ,' said McCarthy.

The winger will see a specialist later today but is expected to get the all clear. 'I wasn’t going to make changes just for the sake of seeing a fresh face'.īut Mark Kennedy could be withdrawn from the squad should he fail to recover from a groin injury. 'I asked myself if by leaving out someone who has been great for me all along, would I improve our chances of making progress in the world cup and I decided that it wouldn’t. 'I’ve said all along that the players who walked off the pitch in Tehran six months ago haven’t suddenly become not good enough to travel,' McCarthy said.

McCarthy contacted the five players by telephone yesterday to say that they would not be travelling to the finals. Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy named his 23-man World Cup squad this morning and has stayed faithful to the players who participated in the qualifying games.Įverton’s Lee Carsley and Mark Kennedy of Wolverhampton Wanderers are named in the squad.īut there are no places for Stephen Reid, Colin Healy, Gary Doherty, Rory Delap or goalkeeper Nick Colgan.

Japan world cup 3 number 7