ONLY DAYS BEFORE taking to the field for their final Group B qualifier with Armenia, Ireland’s international squad is having to come to terms with the likely absence of talismanic striker Robbie Keane.
The 31-year-old suffered serious muscle abductor discomfort on his return from Andorra and was immediately sent for a precautionary medical scan, the Press Association reports.
A spokesperson for the FAI later declared the striker “a strong dount ahead of Tuesday’s match with Armenia.”
Keane’s loss is mitigated somewhat by the return of Jonathan Walters from injury and the improved form of the Dubliner’s erstwhile international strike-partner, Kevin Doyle.
Following Russia’s victory over Slovakia yesterday evening, Ireland have largely relinquished their hopes of automatic qualification. A single point against Armenia would be enough to guarantee Giovanni Trappatoni’s men a place in a two-leg qualification play-off.
Armenia, however, enjoying a spell of unprecedented form, are not be underestimated.