The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2000 qualfication campaign suffered a blow with news Liverpool defender Steve Staunton and Ipswich midfielder Matt Holland will miss their play-off against Turkey next Saturday.

There are also doubts over the availability of Manchester United defender Denis Irwin and Manchester City winger Mark Kennedy.

Staunton hurt his knee in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Derby at Anfield while Holland, who won his first cap as a substitute in last month's 1-1 draw with Macedonia in Skopje, limped out of Ipswich's 2-2 draw at Blackburn with a calf injury.

Irwin is having treatment on a knee injury but is still hopeful that he will be able to link up with the rest of the Irish squad in Dublin in midweek.

Kennedy was injured during City's 1-1 draw at QPR on Saturday.

Republic manager Mick McCarthy will decide on Monday whether to call-up replacements, with Sunderland's Paul Butler and Middlesbrough's Keith O'Neill on stand-by.

'I'll fight for Villa place' - Collymore

Aston Villa misfit Stan Collymore says he will fight for his place at the club.

Manager John Gregory has repeatedly told the striker he is not welcome at the club, and he has been forced to train with the reserves after proposed loan moves to Fulham and Nottingham Forest fell through.

Collymore spoke to City Ground boss David Platt this week, but refused to go back to his former club.

"I'm not going anywhere just to please the manager," Collymore told the Sunday Express.

"I signed a contract when I came to Villa and it remains my intention to see it out."

The striker believes his treatment for mental problems at the Priory Clinic is now complete, and says he is ready for a first team return.

Collymore claims that when Gregory spoke to him on Friday it was his first contact since the end of last season.

Pressure on Gregory was increased by Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Southampton, which left the club without a win in six Premiership games.

Richards calls for player-power fight

Premier League chairman Dave Richards wants a battle to end the growth of the power of "multi-millionaire" footballers.

The Sheffield Wednesday chairman fears a proposed £1bn television deal could actually be bad for the English game.

"If that happens you will see multi-millionaire players, and then tell me if they are going to run through a brick wall for you every Saturday - because they ain't," Richards said.

He called for "some corporate governance" to reassure worried supporters.

"The Premier League needs to start taking some responsibility and start looking at how they put money into the game and what happens to it," he said.

"I am told that some players have clauses in their contract which give them a percentage of TV money. If that is true we are crazy.

"We are going to have clubs just packing up and going away if it persists and we are talking about our national game. I don't think anybody is safe."

Real fightback saves Toshack

Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez saved John Toshack's Real Madrid from another derby defeat in the Spanish capital on Saturday night.

Surprise league leaders Rayo Vallacano took a 2-0 first half lead against their massive neighbours.

Real then had Fernando Morientes sent off, although he had already pulled one back seconds after half time.

Toshack's side had seen one penalty appeal turned down and Morientes was given two yellow cards in quick succession for continuous dissent over the matter.

A second borderline spot kick decision was then given after Raul tumbled over, and Fernando Hierro levelled for 2-2.

Toshack had been warned by the press last week that his job was at stake unless the side began winning.

And they did so after Raul produced a superb lob over former Leicester keeper Kasey Keller in the 84th minute.