Stephen Carr has confirmed his intention to resume his international career in the autumn but will miss the forthcoming training camp in Portugal and the friendly game against Chile on the 24th of this month due to a family holiday that Steve Staunton insists will be of more benefit to a player who has again had to struggle with injury for a good portion of this season.

"I had a call from Steve saying that he was prepared to come back," said Staunton yesterday prior to making the draw for the Carlsberg-sponsored FAI Cup in Drogheda. "The only thing is that he has a holiday booked with his family but I told him that I think it's the right thing for him to do, that he should go away, get well rested and come back in good shape for the important games in the autumn."

The Ireland manager still intends to bring a squad of 30 players to the Algarve in a fortnight's time but there are doubts about several members of the proposed travelling party including Andy O'Brien, Stephen Ireland and, after the ankle injury he picked up while playing for Spurs in Sunday's game against Bolton, Robbie Keane.

O'Brien and Ireland both missed their respective club games at the weekend and Staunton suggested while the pair might still travel to Portugal neither would play any part in the game. "He (Ireland) might be coming with us but he won't be involved in the game. Andy could be something similar but we'll see how he reacts to treatment between now and then."

Keane has yet to inform Staunton of any problem and Martin Jol yesterday suggested while the injury would normally keep a player out for two to three weeks, the Dubliner retains some hope of playing this weekend as he "is a very good healer".

Staunton added that Liam Miller, Jonathan Douglas (both Leeds United) and Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace) would miss the trip, but not necessarily the game, if their clubs made the Championship play-off final.

Asked who might be drafted in to complete the panel if some of the established stars are obliged to stay behind, Staunton declined to be drawn but, he said, "the fact is that the lads who have been with us before (players like Bolton's Joey O'Brien and Kevin Doyle of Reading) have done nothing but progress since then so they're definitely the ones in the driving seat."

He has, he said, monitored the form of Dominic Foley at Ghent in Belgium and young defender Michael Parkhurst of New England Revolution who, though American-born took out an Irish passport two years ago and has declared for the Republic, but hinted that Foley would miss out while Parkhurst's most likely first port of call, he suggested, would be the under-21s.

Aston Villa's Gary Cahill, Staunton confirmed, has informed him that he will not be declaring for Ireland, at least for the moment. "He's told me he doesn't want to at present but he has six months to change his mind," said Staunton. "In the meantime, as I've said before, if a player doesn't want to play for us then I don't want him . . . it's as simple as that."

In last night's FAI Cup draw, meanwhile, holders Drogheda United were handed a tricky-looking first tie at First Division title challengers Limerick. There was one all non-league tie drawn - between Wayside Celtic and Killester United - while the other eight sides from outside the league enjoyed mixed fortunes.

Mayo League side Castlebar Celtic, managed these days by Gavin Dykes who won the cup while with Sligo Rovers and reached two further finals while at the Brandywell only to lose on both occasions, were thrilled, he said, after being handed a home tie against 24-times winners Shamrock Rovers. "We were saying in the car on the way over here that it would be great if we could get a big club and we've ended up landing the cup specialists," he said. "It's a great draw for everybody at the club and everybody in Mayo. We're an ambitious club and this will be a great stage for us. We'll enjoy it."

Only one second round tie will involve two Premier Division sides with last year's beaten finalists Cork City handed a trip to Flancare Park where they will meet a Longford side that has won this competition in two of the last three seasons.

"I'm very happy," said City boss Damien Richardson. "There are a few big clubs facing potential trap-doors (Shelbourne, St Patrick's Athletic and Derry City, like Rovers, all face away games against non-league opposition) but we'll know exactly what's in store for us.

"I'm confident that if my team plays to its potential, it can beat any team in the country."