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Pablo
08/05/2002, 10:43 AM
Kennedy in World Cup sweat
07 May 2002

By Sports.com's ROBERT REID




Mark Kennedy is still sweating on his World Cup fitness despite being included in Mick McCarthy’s 23-man squad.


Kennedy is due to see a specialist for an update on his troublesome groin injury on Tuesday and will be put through his paces when Ireland play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next week in the Niall Quinn testimonial.



Mark Kennedy is due to see a specialist for his groin injury (Sports.com)
If he suffers a relapse in the meantime or fails to convince McCarthy about his fitness, either Celtic’s Colin Healy or Millwall’s Steven Reid could yet come into the equation.


But, predictably, McCarthy was playing his cards close to his chest.


He said: “Mark has to see a specialist to get the all clear, but I spoke to Dave Jones at Wolves and he is confident he will be given the green light to go to Japan.


“Hopefully he will because it would be heartbreaking for any of the lads to miss out on the World Cup through injury at this late stage.


“But Mark knows the score. If there is any doubt, if he is not 100 per cent, we will have to re-evaluate the sitaution.


“But I will give him all the time he needs. He will play most of the game against Sunderland and we will take it from there.”


McCarthy remained loyal to the players who got Ireland to the World Cup when he named his squad.


“Loyalty is very important to me,” he said. “The players who got us to the World Cup are the ones who deserve to go there. You could make a case for everyone, I suppose, but loyalty means a lot to me.


“Jack Charlton showed me a lot of loyalty when I was a player. I wasn’t a regular for Millwall when the 1990 World Cup came around, but Jack stood by me. I owe my players the same sort of loyalty. Anyhow I didn’t think any of the players I left out would add to what we’ve got in any way by including them.”


07 May 2002

By Sports.com's ROBERT REID




Mark Kennedy is still sweating on his World Cup fitness despite being included in Mick McCarthy’s 23-man squad.


Kennedy is due to see a specialist for an update on his troublesome groin injury on Tuesday and will be put through his paces when Ireland play Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next week in the Niall Quinn testimonial.



Mark Kennedy is due to see a specialist for his groin injury (Sports.com)
If he suffers a relapse in the meantime or fails to convince McCarthy about his fitness, either Celtic’s Colin Healy or Millwall’s Steven Reid could yet come into the equation.


But, predictably, McCarthy was playing his cards close to his chest.


He said: “Mark has to see a specialist to get the all clear, but I spoke to Dave Jones at Wolves and he is confident he will be given the green light to go to Japan.


“Hopefully he will because it would be heartbreaking for any of the lads to miss out on the World Cup through injury at this late stage.


“But Mark knows the score. If there is any doubt, if he is not 100 per cent, we will have to re-evaluate the sitaution.


“But I will give him all the time he needs. He will play most of the game against Sunderland and we will take it from there.”


McCarthy remained loyal to the players who got Ireland to the World Cup when he named his squad.


“Loyalty is very important to me,” he said. “The players who got us to the World Cup are the ones who deserve to go there. You could make a case for everyone, I suppose, but loyalty means a lot to me.


“Jack Charlton showed me a lot of loyalty when I was a player. I wasn’t a regular for Millwall when the 1990 World Cup came around, but Jack stood by me. I owe my players the same sort of loyalty. Anyhow I didn’t think any of the players I left out would add to what we’ve got in any way by including them.”

pete
08/05/2002, 12:31 PM
I would have thought Reid would be ahead of Healy in the reckoning?

btw anyone know when Mark Kennedy last played for Ireland? Did he play in any qualifying match?

Éanna
08/05/2002, 1:51 PM
Originally posted by Pablo
"Anyhow I didn’t think any of the players I left out would add to what we’ve got in any way by including them.”
Proof- beyond doubt- that McCarthy is either blind or stupid! A lame horse with faltering eyesight would be a better footballer than lee carsley!

patsh
15/05/2002, 2:13 PM
Mark Kennedy has pulled out of the WC squad. I personally think this is great news, and hope Stephen Reid gets the callup in his place.

patsh
15/05/2002, 2:16 PM
Originally posted by Éanna

Proof- beyond doubt- that McCarthy is either blind or stupid! A lame horse with faltering eyesight would be a better footballer than lee carsley!
I'd reckon that if we get rid of Gunther, Mick will take him on straight away so. Great minds think alike, FOOLS SELDOM DIFFER ....:p
OR
when Carsley gets dumped by whatever english team unlucky to have him, Gunther will be in for him like a shot..... ;)

pete
15/05/2002, 2:58 PM
No matter how much of a donkey Carsley is, Healy is untried & played very little international football.

I may have doubted Reids capabilities at first but he has been in the squad for the last year (unlike Kennedy) & has performed well throughout except in the last friendly when Mick put him on the left & Reid showed he only uses the left for standing on.....

I do not rate Kennedy & wouldn't rely on him in the WC. Sure hes capable of roasting defenders on his day but from what I remember of him playing for ireland he'd fade after the fist 30mins.

btw we now have no right sides midfielder besides McAteer if you exclude converting Finnan or Kelly.

The Legend
16/05/2002, 1:19 AM
I dont think Kennedy deserved a place anyway the arrogant p***k!