Having returned to the centre of the international stage on Saturday against Portugal at Lansdowne Road, Steve Staunton looks set to lead his country in tomorrow night's World Cup Group Two qualifier against Estonia in Tallinn.

The Aston Villa defender had a difficult first half on Saturday, but Mick McCarthy afterwards described his performance as "outstanding". He echoed the sentiment yesterday when, having read some of the reports on the game, he observed: "I see one or two of you weren't impressed, but I thought he was excellent considering that the partnership (with Richard Dunne) was only thrown together on Friday morning."

Saturday's appearance allowed the Dundalk man to equal Tony Cascarino's record of 88 appearances for the Republic, and as he will almost certainly set a new record mark tomorrow night, McCarthy admitted "he has a very good chance of captaining the side".

"If," he added with a grin, "selected." It is a remarkable turnaround for the 32-year-old, who made his international debut 13 years ago against Tunisia as Jack Charlton attempted to add a couple of younger players to the panel that had just competed at the Republic's first major championships.

"It was a very different set-up to the one we have now," recalls Staunton. "I think for a long time there was only really me and Roy Keane who were the younger members of what was basically a very experienced, settled squad.

"Now you've got a load of young players, with more looking like they're coming through from the under-21s and further back down the line than that. Obviously we had a very strong bunch then, but it's great to see the situation we have got now. Things look really good for the future."

McCarthy admits he has felt the need to take Staunton aside a couple of times over the past year or two to reassure the defender he is still an important member of his squad. But despite having made just two brief appearances from the bench prior to Saturday in this campaign, the player insists he has never needed to be sweet-talked into sticking around.

"It's still very important to me," he says. "Games like the Portugal one are games that any player would desperately want to be involved in. It's like Mick says, if you stick around you'll get your chance. I joined up with the squad this time knowing that there was a chance I would get to play and I'm enjoying the opportunity now that it's come along."

Staunton believes the trouble he has had at club level over the past couple of years has equipped him with a new attitude towards the game. "Sometimes you'd get a bit pedestrian about it all, but after not being involved at Liverpool for so long I tend to be grateful for every game now. I think I've learned to play every single one as if it's my last."

His last, though, should still be some way off as he insists he still very much enjoys the game and that he feels he has another couple of years left in him.

"It's probably partly down to that time at Liverpool. It's funny, I'd certainly never had said so at the time, but looking back on it, that time probably did me the world of good. Not that I have any regrets about getting away. They've had a great season and good luck to them, but I was behind (Christian) Ziege and he wasn't getting on the bench, so I probably wouldn't have been on the plane for the UEFA Cup final a few weeks ago."

Eventually, he says, he will complete the coaching courses he has once before started without finishing. First, though, he will heed the advice of everyone who has ever offered him any on the subject, which is to play for as long as he possibly can.

At 32, he feels he is still well able for the Premiership, a combination of maturity and changing practices in the British game having taught him to look after himself. "The money now is huge, but even before that football clubs were always good payers compared with other employers. I don't think it's a whole lot to ask in return that for 10 years players take care of themselves.

"Obviously as you get a bit older, you learn anyway that you can't just shove a load of chocolate or Chinese meals into yourself, but the whole thing has changed beyond all recognition now because of the way clubs are trying to get the best out of their players."

Right now he knows all about it. When he returns home to England next week his close season will last precisely one long weekend, after which he will have to start an exercise regime that will be drawn up by the Villa fitness people. "We've got the InterToto in a few weeks, so there's very little time to relax. But whatever time I've got I'll manage to use it well."

Andy O'Brien has been promoted from the under-21 side to the senior squad for tomorrow night's qualifier. O'Brien, whose elevation costs him the chance of captaining the under-21 side in a European Championship qualifier tonight, is only likely to be on the bench for the tie.

Minor doubts over Graham Barrett (throat infection) and Damien Delaney (groin) prompted under-21 manager Don Givens to postpone naming his team for this evening's game against Estonia.

With qualification for next summer's finals already beyond the reach of the Irish in the wake of last Friday's defeat by Portugal, Givens says he will make a number of changes. Barry Roche and Keith Foy of Nottingham Forest, as well as Celtic's Jim Goodwin and Damien Delaney of Leicester, could all be given their debuts at this level.

Givens is also without Richie Foran, the suspended Barry Quinn and O'Brien, although Jason Gavin is available again after suspension. If fit, the certainties to line out are Barrett and Clinton Morrison - Givens said after Friday's game they would start again this evening - and Celtic's Colin Healy, who will skipper the side in the absence of O'Brien.

Estonian forward Kristen Viikmae will miss tomorrow night's qualifier after injuring his Achilles tendon. Viikmae sustained the injury during the 4-2 defeat by the Netherlands on Saturday and will be out of action for five to six weeks. Defender Dmitri Ustritski has also been ruled out because of injury.