Wimbeldon centre half Kenny Cunningham has been recalled to the Irish squad for this Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Cyprus after the withdrawal from Mick McCarthy's squad over the weekend of the man who profited so handsomely from his absence, Richard Dunne. The Manchester City defender, back in his club's first team on Saturday after patching up his differences with Kevin Keegan, limped out of the game against Wimbledon early on with a calf strain.

Cunningham, meanwhile, playing his first competitive game since suffering a stomach muscle problem at the end of last season, came through all 90 minutes without any problem.

Keegan confirmed that Dunne is expected to be out for a couple of weeks and that the young Dubliner would definitely miss the trip home, so McCarthy took the decision to recall his former skipper to the squad.

The situation regarding Steven Reid and Gary Breen is less clear for the Ireland manager, however. Reid picked up a hamstring problem last week and missed Millwall's visit to Walsall on Saturday.

"I talked to Mark (McGhee) beforehand and so I knew he was going to sit out the game," said McCarthy last night. "After that I'm not too sure, but I'll talk to Mark again over the next day or two and just monitor the situation."

Breen is also a minor concern, with the Coventry defender having come off injured at the break in his club's game at Gillingham, although the nature of the injury is not yet known.

McCarthy admits that he is unsure whether there was a problem with the central defender's fitness and confirmed last night that, after leaving a message for the player, he is hoping to get a call back before the squad begin to assemble in Dublin tomorrow.

If Breen is injured, then McCarthy will be left badly stretched for cover at the back, as he is already without Gary Kelly, Steve Carr, Gary Doherty and Dunne. In the circumstances Cunningham could still find himself playing some part next weekend despite the fact that he has been out of action for close to six months.