NIALL QUINN hopes to ease Mick McCarthy's expanding front line options by proving his recovery from a knee injury within the next fortnight.

With Tony Cascarino and David Connolly both embroiled in problems at club level, McCarthy will be reassured by the news that Quinn's rehabilitation is progressing on schedule.

He is now back running after damaging ligaments in his knee against Coventry City on September 21st and next week hopes to be in a position to join in team work.

Sunderland's meeting with Aston Villa is a possible date for his return but even if he fails to meet that deadline, their visit to Leeds United, a week later, offers him an opportunity of proving his match fitness.

"Ireland's game against Iceland on November 10th has given me a target to work towards and at this point I'm confident that I will make it," he said.

"As yet, I have not risked my knee in a tackle and until I do so, I can't be certain that the injury has healed. But at this point, the signs are encouraging.

"I have kept Mick McCarthy informed of the situation and I share his view that I need to get back playing again for Sunderland before I can be considered for the international match."

Tony Cascarino's future with the French club, Marseilles, is uncertain. Cascarino, who was thought to be on his way out of Marseilles at the end of last season, was identified as one of the players who failed to perform to expectations when they fell to an unexpected 1-0 defeat by Caen last weekend.

In an extraordinary outburst at the end of the game, Marcel Dib, the club's, sporting director, publicly criticised some of the senior members of the team for what he described as a performance lacking in character.

No less than his front line partner, Xavier Graverlaine, the Republic of Ireland player, came in for some heavy criticism but still complained bitterly after being substituted at half-time.

Cascarino is now in danger of being left out of the side next weekend a development which would worry McCarthy who expressed some misgivings after a calf muscle injury had caused the player to miss training for eight days before the game with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Although the manager later nominated the striker as one of the big successes of that game, he clearly wouldn't relish the prospect of another period of inactivity for the player leading up to the Icelandic assignment.

David Connolly, also included in McCarthy's front line options, hopes to return to action before the end of the month after completing just two games for his club this season. Connolly's latest mishap, a thigh muscle strain, has kept him out for the last fortnight but like Quinn, he believes he is on the mend.

He has been cleared to resume full training next week and provided there are no complications, he expects to be playing again by the end of the month.