Carr making up for lost time

STEPHEN CARR confessed yesterday that he was still 30% below his best despite twelve months of regular football following his serious knee injury.

Surgery on his damaged patella kept him out of the game for a year and cost him a place in Ireland's World Cup squad and he ruefully reflected on his on-going struggle to put his trauma behind him.

"It took the whole of last year to get over my injury. What I am concerned about now is to get ready for next year to be honest and to make sure I get a good pre-season," said Carr.