Duff adds to Kerr's worrying injury list

DAMIEN DUFF last night gave Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr a headache he didn’t need in the shape of a knee injury as his squad assembled in Dublin ahead of next week’s World Cup clash with France.

Build-ups to international matches would not be the same these days if at least one player did not miss the first day’s training, but Kerr insisted last night that Duff, and his three other absentees - Steve Finnan (groin), Andy O’Brien (virus) and Kenny Cunningham (neck) - will all be fit and ready by Wednesday.

“Damien tweaked his knee in training with Chelsea and it’s a bit sore. He’s had some treatment in London and they feel that he’s going to be okay. I don’t know whether he’ll train in the next few days, we’ll see how it goes,” said Kerr.

“Andy has a virus - a stomach problem. He hasn’t trained too much this week but we’re hoping he might train tomorrow [Saturday].

“Kenny’s neck has locked up on him again. He’s had that problem for the last number of weeks but I expect him to be okay. Steve Finnan has had a recurrence of the soreness in his groin so he’s remained back in Liverpool for treatment but we’re expecting him in tomorrow [Saturday].”

At the moment, Finnan’s recurring groin problem makes him the biggest doubt though there will be some concern that Duff may not begin training until next week.

“It’s early yet,” said Kerr. “Those four might be alright but the others mightn’t. That’s the nature of going into big games - you rarely have a trouble-free build up so it doesn’t affect us.

“The fact that it's a competitive game helps to some degree, though you could see from training that no one is taking it easy. I’m confident that those players will be available by Tuesday or Wednesday.”

Kerr is still undecided about whether to travel to Lens this evening to watch France’s World Cup qualification clash with the Faroe Islands. Assistant manager Chris Hughton is likely to go if Kerr does not travel.

Meanwhile, French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes has backed Raymond Domenech, denying he said the France coach would be sacked if the team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

“I did not say that Raymond Domenech would be sacked if France did not qualify,” Escalettes said last night, as the French geared up for this evening’s must-win Group Four clash with the Faroe Islands.

Escalettes said he had been misquoted in an interview with French daily France-Soir.

“I have always supported Raymond,” Escalettes added. “I called him to explain the situation and there are no problems between us.”

Domenech has a contract saying his mission is to lead the team to the World Cup finals in Germany. His contract does not mention what will happen if France do not qualify and does not even specify what will happen if France do qualify.

“If we are eliminated, which I don’t think will happen, the federal council [of the FFF] will meet and we will decide what happens next,” Escalettes said.

“If we do qualify, the council will decide whether we continue with the same coach until and during the World Cup. The man who will have steered the team to the finals will be ideally placed to stay in charge.”