SHAMROCK ROVERS MAY have two former senior internationals involved behind the scenes these days, but there is another Ireland legend around the place this week.
The Irish Independent reported yesterday that the nation’s all-time record caps holder and goalscorer Robbie Keane has been training with his local club in a bid to stay fit.
36-year-old Keane has been a free agent since leaving LA Galaxy last November, although he has been linked with several moves to England, the US, Asia and Australia.
And while Hoops boss Stephen Bradley has stated that there is no chance of the Tallaght native linking up with old team-mates Stephen McPhail (director of football) and Damien Duff (first-team coach and U15s manager) at Rovers, he has been delighted to have him involved at their Roadstone facility.
“It’s been brilliant,” Bradley told The42 today. “Robbie’s been in working individually with (physio) Tony McCarthy and then he has dropped in and out of our sessions.
“He’s taken the strikers for finishing sessions too and to have someone like Robbie telling an 18-year-old about movement or how to finish is frightening.
It’s been unbelievable for us as a coaching staff. When you look at his record at international level I don’t think it will be truly recognised for what it is for years to come. It’s scary.”
There is no set time-frame on how long Keane will spend with the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division outfit but it is not expected to beyond a couple of weeks.
“He has had loads of offers in England and away but that (a deal at Rovers) hasn’t even come into it,” Bradley added.
“It’s basically just to keep him ticking over and to get fit so that he’s ready to go when he makes his next move. If Robbie says ‘can I come in next week?’, of course he can. If he says it’s his last day, then it has been unbelievable to have him.”
After last week’s derby win over Bohemians earned Rovers their first three points of the new season, they welcome Derry City to Tallaght Stadium on Friday night before Monday’s trip to Galway and Bradley is eager to add another positive result.
“Last Friday was unbelievable but it’s gone,” he said. “We have to move on and build on it now. Derry are a good side, we know that they are an attacking threat and they will come here to play.
“We need to go and match them. I think we’re a different team to anything we’ve had here for a few years and I honestly believe we will only get better with time. Hopefully we can show that tomorrow night.”
– First published 15.11
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