Ireland's No.1 choice goalkeeper, Alan Kelly, is unlikely to be fit for the World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Estonia.

The Blackburn Rovers man has missed his club's last two games because of a thigh muscle injury which he picked up in training - and the latest prognosis puts Kelly out for a month.

Kelly was yesterday named in the Irish squad to face Portugal and Estonia - but manager Mick McCarthy will be monitoring the situation carefully and, if he feels the Blackburn man isn't going to make it, he could call up another goalkeeper.

The most likely candidate would be Hibernian's Nicky Colgan. The former Chelsea reserve has been on outstanding form so far this season and is one of the main reasons why his club are so far up the league table.

Ireland goalkeeping coach Packie Bonnar has looked at the player on a number of occasions and he feels that his form merits a call-up.

There is no doubt that Mick McCarthy will be disappointed with the news because he counts Kelly as his best goalkeeper - but with the likes of Shay Given and Dean Kiely still in the squad it gives the team world class cover.

Blackburn manager Graeme Souness said: "Alan has pulled the kicking muscle in his thigh and that's why he was absent for our League game with Bolton last Saturday.

"At this stage, we don't know how long he will be out, but John Filan is capable of filling the gap and we also have Alan Miller waiting in the wings."