Niall Quinn is refusing to rule out the possibility of staying another season with Sunderland, with the arrival of Patrick Mboma potentially crucial to his decision.
Republic of Ireland striker Quinn is to retire from international football after this summer's World Cup, with speculation rife as to whether he will also hang up his boots at club level.
Quinn is to sit down with Sunderland boss Peter Reid upon his return from Japan and discuss whether he will see out the last season on a three-year extension he signed with the Black Cats in the summer of 2000.
Severe knee injuries and a recurring back problem have taken their toll on the 35-year-old, who last night made his 88th international appearance for Ireland to join Tony Cascarino as the second most-capped player in the Republic's history behind Steve Staunton.
Cameroon international Mboma, who has joined Sunderland on loan until the end of the season from Parma with the possibility of making the move permanent in the summer for Stg£4million, could yet help Quinn extend his career.
"Everybody knows the World Cup is my swansong with the Republic," stated Quinn, who was only on the Lansdowne Road pitch for the last minute of Ireland's 2-0 win over Russia.
"But as of now I don't know what I'm going to do next season. When I signed my three-year deal the club were worried whether I would see out the three years.
"I promised them at the start of the third year I would sit down and talk with them, and I told them I would be grown up about things and that I wouldn't just sit back and let my career fade away and just pick up the money.
"I've had a great time with Sunderland. It would be a shame, after reaching the peak I have with them, to let it slip and be remembered for a bad last year rather than the five or six good years I've had.
"But Patrick's arrival can only help me in terms of the World Cup and also coming back next year and playing for Sunderland. It means I won't be pushed for 90 minutes all the time.
"At the start of the season I was flying when I was coming off the bench. I was scoring and setting up goals, but then I played five games in 13 days over Christmas and by the fifth game I was hopeless.
"With Patrick now with us, that could make all the difference. But we will see what happens when I come back from the World Cup. I might be full of beans again and really want to bash another year out.
"But then I might realise the legs and the back don't last forever. We will play it by ear."
PA