Carr and Ireland to miss San Marino clash

AS THE Irish squad gathered in Portmarnock yesterday ahead of Wednesday’s European Championship qualifier against Sam Marino, there was good and bad news for manager Steve Staunton from the north-east of England.

Despite threatening to do the opposite early in the week, Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder cleared Shay Given to travel to Dublin, even though the goalkeeper didn’t play for his club on Saturday.

However, his Newcastle colleague Stephen Carr is once again ruled out, after limping off in the scoreless draw at Manchester City on Saturday.