At at a time of worry, confusion, and uncertainty, Uefa’s decision to postpone Euro 2020 until the summer of 2021 is a welcome ray of clarity that gives football fans hope that it won’t always be this way, writes Chris Hatherall.

Ciaran Clark is likely to miss the Euro 2020 finals if the Republic of Ireland qualify and they go ahead as planned after undergoing ankle surgery.

McCarthy’s contract runs until July this year, with Kenny due to take over in August so, barring a revisiting of the deal with both men, the planned succession would take on an entirely unexpected complexion.

UEFA are considering postponing the Euro 2020 finals until next year.

It could well be the last such award for some time but the first SSE Airtricity League/Soccer Writers of Ireland Player of the Month this season has gone to Shamrock Rovers’ Jack Byrne.

He will be absent for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Slovakia.

Slovakia have been dealt a blow with the news first-choice goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will be sidelined for their Euro 2020 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland.

Niall Quinn hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game against Slovakia being called off.

All fans who purchased tickets for the game in Bratislava will be refunded.

The prospect of Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia taking place behind closed doors in Bratislava appears to have moved a step closer.

Troy Parrott and James McCarthy look like missing out on Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia after manager Mick McCarthy insisted they both have a queue ahead of them to jump.

Kenny will be in charge when the competition gets underway in September.

Having left his seat in Tallaght just before the winning strike, the Ireland manager says he had already seen enough of the midfielder’s performance to give him “plenty to think about” as he ponders his squad for the Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia.

No Irish domestic or international football fixtures are currently under threat from the coronavirus but the FAI are in regular contact with government and UEFA about the spread of the disease and say they will follow expert guidance about any measures which may need to be taken.

James McClean is hoping that intensive rehab work he is undertaking in Dubai will help speed up his recovery from a knee injury in time to make him available for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off game against Slovakia on March 26.

Mick McCarthy will keep the door open for James McClean to recover in time for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off.

James McClean has emerged as a major injury doubt for Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia next month after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury.

“We all know it’s hard,” he said yesterday. “But we’ve got to believe we can do it. The first one is the key. If we win the first one, I think we’ll win the second one. We’ll get momentum (and) we’ll win the second one.

Mick McCarthy has been singing the praises of young Ireland international Michael Obafemi after seeing the 19-year-old in action in Southampton’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with Spurs on Saturday.

McClean is enjoying a resurgence of form under Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill at Stoke, with talk of a possible all-Ireland Euros qualifier so far confined to some good-natured joshing.

The Irish international centre-half is seated in front of the dictaphone, reeling in the years.

Mick McCarthy says that Adam Idah has put himself “right into our thoughts” with his sensational hat-trick for Norwich in their 4-2 FA Cup win at Preston.

The game will be played at the recently renovated national stadium which has a capacity of 22,500.

The Republic of Ireland will head to Scotland for their Elite Round qualifiers to the 2020 European Under-17 Championship.

It’s the European Championship Finals draw which puts the hype in hypothetical for Ireland and 15 other nations.