Mick McCarthy had good reason to be cheerful yesterday as he prepared the final draft of 22 players for the Republic of Ireland's European Championship play-off games against Turkey.

Not only did he see his team jump 21 places to 35th in FIFA's world rankings, but he was able to reflect on a highly successful weekend for some of those he hopes to send into action against the Turks.

McCarthy was at Pride Park on Saturday to watch Rory Delap score twice in Derby County's 31 win over Chelsea and then he attended Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Sunday to see Niall Quinn replicate that feat in their 2-1 victory over Tottenham.

Add in goals from Ian Harte and the Keanes, Roy and Robbie, and it represented one of most successful scoring weekends for Irish players in the Premiership. "Nothing works on a player's confidence as much as putting the ball in the back of the net," said McCarthy. "To that extent, it was good to see some of our established players score in the run up to our European games."

The manager was careful to hedge his bets ahead of today's squad announcement by stressing the word "established". Harte, one of the first of the younger players to be introduced in his rebuilding programme, hasn't started an Ireland game since the 2-0 win over Paraguay last February. One has to go back even further to trace the last of Delap's three caps - as a substitute for David Connolly in the scoreless draw with Mexico in May last year.

That Harte, grown to a new maturity in Leeds' good start to the season, will find a place in the revised squad is scarcely in question. The chances of Delap doing likewise are, it seems, considerably more tenuous.

The priorities for McCarthy will be to retain the balance in such measure that he feels adequately covered for all contingencies and to measure international experience against club form.

Delap certainly fits the bill on the latter count. In a Derby team which has seldom looked settled he has emerged as one of their more viable assets with five goals from midfield. His selection would bring versatility and a physical presence which could prove invaluable. Acknowledging that point, McCarthy said: "That is one of the things which has always impressed me about the lad. He's a good competitor and from the time I first watched him he's never been afraid to go in where it hurts."

The primary reason for McCarthy's journey to Sunderland was to assess the form of central defender Paul Butler who, last week, became the latest English-born player establish his credentials to represent Ireland.

Butler, whose partnership with Steve Bould has contributed significantly to the club's success on their return to the top grade, did not disappoint McCarthy. "He's a big, strong dependable centre back and he showed all those qualities again in this game. The problem, as ever, is to balance out inexperience against good current form."

That equation is particularly difficult given the fact that Phil Babb, whose place in the squad is now under threat from Butler, hasn't played a first team game for Liverpool this season. Babb's predicament is to some degree shared by his former Liverpool clubmate Jason McAteer whose career began to founder in the closing weeks of last season when he was injured. So far this season he has made just three appearances as a substitute for Blackburn, who are currently in freefall in Division One. It's not the type of preparation which reassures McCarthy and it will unquestionably present him with a dilemma before he names his 22. Almost certainly, Gary Kelly, who like his nephew Harte is revelling in Leeds' good run of form, is the front runner for the right-sided midfield position with Mark Kennedy capable of providing cover if he's not required on the opposite flank.

Ironically, McAteer's fate could depend on how McCarthy views Damien Duff, another player who has suffered in Blackburn's collective misery this season. After the high promise of his early appearances, Duff's international career now appears to be becalmed and significantly he failed to figure in the team for the game in Macedonia. Yet, in a straight choice between him McAteer, he would appear to hold most of the advantages, even if it would mean the inclusion of three left-sided midfield players. Up front, David Kelly's name will be one of those omitted from the travelling party and David Connolly's place is at risk if McCarthy jettisons a specialist forward to accommodate either Delap or Butler further back.