Gary Breen yesterday learned his fate for the coming Premiership season when Coventry boss Gordon Strachan announced the club's squad numbers for the 2000-2001 campaign. Breen retained his number 17 shirt which is a clear indication that he will only be a bit-part player again this year.

Paul Williams, Colin Hendry and Richard Shaw were handed the 4, 5 and 6 shirts respectively which makes them first-choice defenders. The news will come as a huge blow to Breen, who was wanting to hold down a regular first-team slot to guarantee his place in the Irish team.

If Phil Babb settles in at Sporting Lisbon as is widely expected then Breen will come under severe pressure to keep him out of Mick McCarthy's team. McCarthy said recently that Breen was his number-one choice along with Kenny Cunningham in the heart of the Irish defence, but good form from Babb could change all that.

It has been rumoured that Ipswich Town are interested in signing Breen and if there is any truth in this then the player should seriously consider it.

The other Irish at the club all held onto their squad numbers. Robbie Keane is at No. 7 again this season and Barry Ferguson is 25. Barry Quinn will be slightly disappointed not to get a midfield berth after the departure of Gary McAllister to Liverpool.

Barry is the only midfielder at the club with the skill and passing ability to follow in the great Scots footsteps but Strachan seems to think it is still too early and has given Quinn number 22 while leaving the number 10 shirt vacant.

1 Magnus Hedman, 2 Marc Edworthy, 3 Steve Froggatt, 4 Paul Williams, 5 Colin Hendry, 6 Richard Shaw, 7 Robbie Keane, 8 Youssef Chippo, 9 Cedric Roussel, 10 Vacant, 11 Moustapha Hadji, 12 Paul Telfer, 13 Chris Kirkland, 14 Carlton Palmer, 15 John Eustace, 16 John Aloisi, 17 Gary Breen, 18 Noel Whelan, 19 Ysrael Zuniga, 20 Tomas Gustafsson, 21 Gavin Strachan, 22 Barry Quinn, 23 Morten Hyldgaard, 24 Marcus Hall, 25 Barry Ferguson, 26 Mo Konjic, 27 Stephen McPhee, 28 Daire Doyle, 29 Runar Normann, 30 Laurent Delorge.