Doherty eyes Irish comeback

Tottenham defender Gary Doherty believes he still has a slim chance of going to the World Cup with the Republic of Ireland.

Doherty, who broke his leg and dislocated an ankle against Torquay in the Worthington Cup last September, returned to first-team action againstWest Ham on Saturday.

He now has just three games left to prove to Irish boss Mick McCarthy that he is fit enough to play a part in their World Cup campaign.

His Spurs and Ireland teammate Steve Carr has already admitted defeat in his battle to be fit in time for the finals in Japan and Korea but Doherty retains a glimmer of hope.

Doherty, who replaced Christian Ziege late in the second half of Saturday's 1-1 draw, said: "I've got half a chance but my hopes must be slim because I've been out for so long and the Republic have been playing very well.

"It was very frustrating to suffer a serious injury in a cup game like that, in front of a small crowd on a wet and miserable Thursday evening. I've never had a serious injury before but I suppose if you're going to, you might as well get it while you're at somewhere like Spurs where you have the best treatment available."

Tottenham went ahead through Teddy Sheringham but West Ham equalised a minute from the end with an Ian Pearce goal.

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Glenn Roeder said he will not be upset if Joe Cole is omitted from Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for the World Cup.

Cole, who missed Saturday's match with a thigh injury, has joined up with the England squad but Roeder does not want England taking any risks with him against Paraguay on Wednesday. Roeder said: "I will not be dreadfully upset if he doesn't make the final 23.

"He has everything in front of him. It would be nice if he went for the experience but it would not be the end of the world if he or Michael Carrick don't make the squad."