Kinsella, McCarthy back in action - March 5, 2001
Republic of Ireland international Mark Kinsella was deemed fit to enough to make a late substitute appearance in Charlton's game against Middlesbrough on Saturday, despite withdrawing from the Irish squad to face Denmark last week.
It's a relief for Mick McCarthy, who needs the Addicks skipper for two World Cup qualifiers this month and who has already seen Tottenham's Steve Carr break down during his attempted comeback from injury.
Kinsella recovered from recent knee surgery to make his comeback for Charlton last week. But, just as Carr had done, Kinsella broke down with a separate but related injury, causing him to withdraw from the Irish squad.
In Carr's case, a slight hernia caused by his earlier groin injury will see him miss most of the remainder of the season.
Luckily for Ireland, Kinsella's strain was just a temporary setback. He had recovered sufficiently to sit on the bench against Middlesbrough and played the last few minutes as a sub for Jensen.
Another Irishman on the comeback trail at the weekend was Plymouth's Sean McCarthy - but in his case the absence was self-inflicted. McCarthy came on as a 62nd-minute sub in Argyle's 1-1 draw with Barnet for his first appearance since January 30.
The striker's absence was down to suspension. McCarthy, who has found the net ten times this season, has also garnered two red cards and eight yellows already!