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Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will assess the effect the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup heartbreak has had on Kevin Doyle before deciding whether to play him on Saturday.

Doyle was part of the Ireland team controversially beaten in last night’s play-off in Paris when Thierry Henry handled the ball twice before squaring to William Gallas to bundle home 13 minutes from time.

The Irish dominated for long periods of the game, only to go out 2-1 on aggregate after former Wolves star Robbie Keane gave them a early lead.

McCarthy takes Wolves to Chelsea on Saturday and admitted considering the physical and mental effects on the club record £6.5million signing, who won’t rejoin his team-mates until tomorrow.

The manager said: “We’ll have to see how ‘Doyler’ is first. He’s had two huge games against France to get to the World Cup, so we’ll just have to see how he is.”

Henry admitting handling, but added it was referee Martin Hansson’s decision.

He said: “It was a handball – the ball hit my arm, fell in front of me and I played it. The ref allowed it.”

Doyle retorted: “The linesman had as good a view as anyone and him not seeing it is embarrassing.”

But the Wolves man declined to blame Henry, saying: “It’s instinctive and if you can get away with it – I am sure he was expecting the free-kick to be given.

“I don’t blame him. It wasn’t even a 50-50 decision. He caught it and pulled it back again.”

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni admitted he would rather have suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat than concede the controversial winner.

He said: “I would prefer to have gone out on penalties. I’m sad because the referee had time to ask the linesman.”

France coach Raymond Domenech said: “Sometimes we feel lucky. In a way, I regret they didn’t qualify.”

Republic of Ireland assistant boss Liam Brady added: “I’d maybe look at the fact the seedings for the play-offs favoured the bigger teams. I asked Thierry and he said ‘I handled it, but I didn’t mean it.’

“I think he meant it. I wouldn’t call it cheating – players seek every advantage they can.”

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