Soccer: Fleming and McPhail get Ireland call-up

Curtis Fleming and Stephen McPhail have been called up to the Republic of Ireland World Cup squad for the Group Two showdown with Cyprus.

Fleming and McPhail were summoned to the Irish team hotel in Dublin after both Millwall midfielder Steven Reid and Rory Delap were ruled out by respective toe and hamstring injuries.

The 33-year-old Fleming won the last of his 10 caps in a scoreless draw with Mexico in a friendly in Dublin in 1998.

McPhail won the last of his four caps in the 2-2 draw with Croatia at Lansdowne Road in August.

Leeds defender Gary Kelly is serving a one-match suspension and manager Mick McCarthy was unable to name Stephen Carr (Spurs), Gary Doherty (Spurs) and Damien Duff (Blackburn) in his original 22-man squad because of injuries.

Manchester City's Richard Dunne withdrew at the weekend with a calf injury picked up in his club's 4-0 defeat by Millwall at Maine Road.

Kenny Cunningham, who played his first match for the Dons this season in that game, was called up in place of Dunne.

The Irish boss has not yet decided whether to start with any of the four players currently on yellow cards from previous qualifying games - Leeds striker Robbie Keane, Charlton midfielder Mark Kinsella, Blackburn winger Jason McAteer and Cunningham.

"I want there to be competition for places for the Cyprus game and I won't be telling anyone of my decision until I have spoken to the players," said McCarthy.

But it seems likely that the quartet will be kept in cotton wool for the play-off games on November 10 and 15.

Clinton Morrison, Gary Breen, Mark Kennedy and Steve Staunton took no part in the first training session in Dublin.

"They are all suffering from minor knocks but I don't envisage any problems with the lads being ready for Saturday," said McCarthy.