McCarthy gives trio last chance to earn tickets

Sven Goran Eriksson may have fallen in with the wishes of the big Premiership clubs for fewer international friendlies, but the Republic of Ireland's Mick McCarthy is proving less malleable. On the eve of today's match against the United States, the Irish manager launched a spirited defence of such fixtures, which he maintains are far more valuable than the squad get-togethers England have agreed to hold in busy months like August, November and April.

"Every game, you see something and without these games my squad wouldn't be as experienced or as good as it is," McCarthy said. "All the youngsters have benefited, as I did as a player. I don't think playing against each other or a League team is the same." As if to underline his point, three players have been handed a last opportunity this evening to force their way into the World Cup squad that he will name early next month. The Newcastle defender Andy O'Brien, Southampton's Rory Delap and Celtic's Colin Healy will all start, with Healy promised that he has every chance of lasting the full 90 minutes.

McCarthy will, nevertheless, make concessions by not over-burdening players at a critical stage of the season. Last month, he upset Graeme Souness by giving Blackburn's Damien Duff almost a full game in the 3-0 victory over Denmark, and although Duff will start tonight, as Robbie Keane's partner in Ireland's first-choice attack, others with important League business this weekend – notably Matt Holland of Ipswich and Millwall's Steven Reid – will not be overworked.

With that pair confined to the substitutes' bench, Roy Keane already missing and Jason McAteer dropping out of contention yesterday, there were vacancies in midfield for Healy, who has impressed on loan at Coventry City and in his two previous internationals, and Delap, whose appearances have been limited by injury and inconsistency to six in the four years since his debut.

Richard Dunne, the Manchester City centre-half, has been sent home with a hamstring injury, so O'Brien will be alongside the captain Gary Breen in defence, encouraged by McCarthy's words that there might be room on the plane to Asia for a fifth central defender. "It's getting tight now, so I hope I can take the opportunity," said O'Brien, summing up the thoughts of all the fringe candidates.

McCarthy claims to know the 23 he wants to take with him next month, allowing for injuries. The United States coach Bruce Arena is not that far advanced, having used as many as 38 players in an uneven qualifying campaign. "After this game we will be able to make some firm decisions," said Arena, who wants to toughen up his team against some vigorous European opposition.

One of his key decisions at the World Cup will be who keeps goal out of Blackburn's Brad Friedel and the equally experienced Kasey Keller, who conceded only one goal in seven matches during the recent Gold Cup and is now playing regularly for Tottenham. Friedel is due another game tonight, with Claudio Reyna of Sunderland in midfield but Everton's Joe-Max Moore is likely to be squeezed out.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2): Given (Newcastle); Finnan (Fulham), O'Brien (Newcastle), Breen (Coventry), Harte (Leeds); Delap (Southampton), Kinsella (Charlton), Healy (Coventry), Kilbane (Sunderland); Keane (Leeds), Duff (Blackburn).

UNITED STATES (4-4-2, probable): Friedel (Blackburn); Sanneh (Nuremberg), Pope (DC United), Agoos (San Jose Earthquakes), Berhalter (Crystal Palace); Stewart (NAC Breda), Reyna (Sunderland), Armas (Chicago Fire), Lewis (Fulham); McBride (Columbus Crew), Mathis (Metro Stars).

Referee: P Leuba (Switzerland).