Mick McCarthy is giving influential striker Niall Quinn every opportunity to recover from persistent back trouble before the Republic of Ireland resume their World Cup campaign in Cyprus on Saturday week.

The towering Sunderland forward has been named in McCarthy's 22-man squad, although the manager acknowledged yesterday that his presence is far from guaranteed.

"I simply don't know - I spoke to him yesterday and he couldn't really tell me what is going on. Peter (Reid) is away scouting - most of the staff is away - and Quinny is waiting results from tests and scans.

"But he is very hopeful and is determined that he is going to play. Having been involved all along, these are two vitally important games and he wants to play," said McCarthy.

Quinn has a prolapsed disc in his back which in turn traps nerves and gives him the pain he is suffering. His Newcastle-based consultant, whom Quinn saw yesterday afternoon, says for the disc to recover it requires Quinn to have a month of rest from competitive football. When that month arrives is now the pressing issue.

Quinn's manager at Sunderland, Peter Reid, was not back from his scouting trip to Argentina until early last night and Quinn had not spoken to him as of yesterday evening. As McCarthy noted, much depends on Reid's assessment. If Reid orders Quinn to recuperate immediately then Quinn will not feature in Cyprus or Barcelona.

Quinn, while desperate to play in the qualifiers, and determined to travel to Dublin if included in Sunderland's team for Saturday's fixture at Stamford Bridge, also has longer-term thoughts about his injury. Recovery now would mean availability later in the season for qualifiers that, arguably, will be more difficult. "I can't really comment until I have spoken to Peter Reid," said Quinn last night. "I've left plenty of messages."

McCarthy has already been pondering alternatives to a player that has long been regarded as an indispensable cog in the Ireland attack.

Although the rejuvenated David Connolly is expected to replace Quinn, it was speculated that there might be some role for the versatile young Spurs player, Gary Doherty.

"In terms of a direct replacement for Quinn," mused McCarthy after releasing his squad, "I'll wait and see. I don't know. There is nobody in there that is going to be a direct replacement.

"I could play anybody up front to fill his boots but they would be having a go rather than being tried and tested. But Gary Doherty is coming along, he gives us an advantage and it might just affect the way we play."

While McCarthy allowed that both Doherty and regular front man Robbie Keane had formed attacking partnerships in the past, he pointed out that "both have developed a lot as players" since then.

"Gary has played more as a defender," he continued, "but David Pleat said to me at Spurs, `don't write him off as a striker.' He might not be a striker in the true sense of the word in terms of setting play up but he has that happy knack of putting the ball in the net."

McCarthy also intends watching Gary Kelly of Leeds next week before finalising his line-up for the game in Nicosia.

Given the lateness of the season, the Ireland manager will select from a refreshingly healthy squad sheet. Wimbledon's Kenny Cunningham will, as anticipated, make a return to the Irish camp to contend for his 32nd cap after injury curtailed his international career for most of the past year.

Doherty and Cunningham strengthen McCarthy's defensive options and he hinted broadly yesterday that the position of first choice goalkeeper is about to rotate again. "Well, I have made up my mind in the sense that Alan (Kelly) knows that he is not likely to be considered for the number one keeper if he is playing with Blackburn reserves. It would be hard for me to justify that when you have two keepers in the English Premiership and, of course, Nicky Colgan playing in the Premiership in Scotland. Alan Kelly is being watched in the reserves and his performance, attitude and professionalism is first class."

The Irish manager has been studying film of Cyprus and was keen to point out the potential awkwardness of the hosts who are regarded as something of an easy touch.

Although loathe to actually voice the widely held contention that six points from the next two games are central to Ireland's qualifying aspirations, McCarthy agreed as much in a veiled summary.

"We would like to get six points from the two games, yes, but for me to sit here and say it is imperative with Holland and Portugal still to come here (to Dublin) would be, I think stupid, putting pressure on myself and the players."

"But I know realistically we should be getting six points," he qualified. "Because Portugal will. And Holland will get the points. But - and this applies to Holland and Portugal as well - you don't always get the results you seek, you sometimes get a surprise."

Meanwhile, under-21 manager Don Givens has recalled Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper Joe Murphy for the European Championship qualifying match against Cyprus on Friday week.

Also back is Bradford City's Andy O'Brien, while Shaun Byrne, who was drafted in for the recent friendly against Denmark, retains his place.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (squad v Cyprus/Andorra): A Kelly (Blackburn Rovers), Given (Newcastle United), Kiely (Charlton Athletic); G Kelly (Leeds United), Staunton (Aston Villa), Harte (Leeds United), Breen (Coventry City), Dunne (Manchester City), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur); Roy Keane (Manchester United), Kinsella (Charlton Athletic), Carsley (Coventry City), McAteer (Blackburn Rovers), Holland (Ipswich Town), Kilbane (Sunderland), Finnan (Fulham), Delap (Derby County); Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Quinn (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Leeds United), Connolly (Feyenoord). On stand-by: O'Neill (Middlesbrough), Farrelly (Bolton Wanderers), Kavanagh (Stoke City), Fleming (Middlesbrough), Colgan (Hibernian), Mahon (Blackburn Rovers).

U-21 SQUAD (v Cyprus): Murphy (Tranmere Rovers), Delaney (P Vale), Byrne (West Ham United), Gavin (Middlesborough), O'Shea (Manchester United/Royal Antwerp), Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Clarke (Stoke City), Foy (Nottingham Forest), Healy (Celtic), Quinn (Coventry), O'Connor (Stoke City), McGrath (Aston Villa), Reid (Millwall), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), O'Brien (Bradford City), Sadlier (Millwall), George (Luton Town), Reddy (Sunderland/Swindon Town).