However, now enjoying his club football again after winning back his match fitness, McAteer cannot wait to take on world champions Brazil in Wednesday’s Dublin friendly.

“It’s great to be back,” declared the 32-year-old, who has 51 caps to his name.

“I am really enjoying my football at the minute playing in the centre of midfield as was the case during the first five years of my senior career at Bolton.

“It’s like riding a bike – you never forget how to do it.”

McAteer added: “It’s a testament to Irish football at the minute that Brazil want to play us.

“We will certainly give them a game and we won’t be overawed. There will be Brazilian players looking for Irish jerseys at the end of the 90 minutes.

“I would love to play in a third World Cup, having played under Jack Charlton at USA ’96 and then Korea/Japan in 2002.

“Everyone was disappointed that we didn’t reach the European Championship finals. But I know the lads are determined to get over that setback and qualify for Germany in 2006.”

Winger Damien Duff has, meanwhile, been forced to withdraw from the Republic squad with an Achilles injury.

The problem kept the winger out of Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Arsenal at Highbury yesterday, leaving him with little option but to withdraw from Brian Kerr’s international party.

While disappointed with Duff’s absence, Republic boss Kerr has decided against calling up any replacement as he already expects to have a 22-strong squad in Dublin.

Both Liverpool’s Steve Finnan and Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny come through their FA Cup matches yesterday unscathed.

“Chelsea have been very helpful to us with Damien and it is very important that he gets himself right for them,” said Kerr.

“He’s got a lot of big games for Chelsea coming up, but our big games don’t start until September so I hope he is right for both of us next season.”

Brazil assembled in London last night and are scheduled fly into Dublin later this afternoon.

Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira has reported no late changes in his star-studded squad, with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto and Juninho all expected to take their place in the starting line-up as the Brazilians prepare for vital world cup qualifying games against Peru and Argentina.

Kerr is looking for a good showing from his men as they prepare for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, where they will be in the same group as France.

“I would love a good performance,” said Kerr on the Football Association of Ireland website, www.fai.ie.

“What we have to remember that we are aiming to qualify for the World Cup and this is part of the preparation.

“We will have five to eight games between now and September and we have got to be right for September.”

He added: “Individually, I think all the players can learn from the movement and their first touch, but if we can have as good a team ethic as Brazil, we can go a long way.”

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