ROBBIE KEANE WAS injured during the Ireland team’s training session today, following a challenge by Ipswich Town defender Damien Delaney.

Assistant manager Marco Tardelli was unable to confirm whether or not Keane would be available for Saturday’s clash with Macedonia and stated that the injury would be fully assessed later in the week.

Keane’s absence would leave Ireland without an established striker in their lineup following an injury to Kevin Doyle earlier in the month. It would also represent an added blow, given that other regular first-teamers such as Richard Dunne and Damien Duff are already out of contention for the game.

Meanwhile, Tardelli stated that Darren O’Dea will partner John O’Shea on Saturday, with Simon Cox a definite starter and Shane Long waiting in the wings should Keane fail to recover fully.

Long has been Ireland’s only regular goalscorer this season at club level, scoring 23 goals in 45 league appearances.

Ireland’s vital Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia kicks off at 8.30pm this Saturday at the Philip II Arena in Skopje.

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