Injured Carr out of crunch game

Tottenham full-back Steve Carr is out of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Holland on 1 September after revealing he is to undergo a further scan on his damaged knee next week.

He hasn't been able to run properly since aggravating the long-standing knee complaint and there are fears he might need an operation to cure the injury.

Speaking on his official website, icons.com, Carr revealed: "Sadly, my knee injury hasn't responded as well as I hoped to the enforced rest and I will have to have another scan next week to determine if there is any further inflammation or complications.

"That means I'm definitely out for the Holland game. Needless to say, I'm gutted. This is the biggest match for the Republic for a long time and I'd desperately hoped I'd be able to play a part .

"I knew in my heart a week or so ago that my chances were looking bleak and it's come to the time when I owe it to the manager Mick McCarthy and the rest of the Ireland team to be honest and rule myself out.

"I haven't been able to run since I aggravated the knee and it would be pointless pretending I still had a chance of playing when I can't even train properly.

"Of course, it's doubly frustrating because I'm also not able to pull on a Spurs shirt. I had high hopes for the team this season and it's terrible having to watch from the sidelines so early in the campaign.

"I've just got to be patient now. The biggest temptation is to rush back into training even when you know you're not 100 per cent and aggravate the problem."

Charlton's Mark Kinsella, who is recovering from a hernia operation, and Wimbledon's Kenny Cunningham will also miss Ireland's game through injury.

However, Clinton Morrison of Crystal Palace and Millwall's Steven Reid are both in the squad having impressed on their international debuts in the 2-2 draw against Croatia last week.