ROBBIE KEANE WON’T be happy to just make up the numbers at Euro 2016, LA Galaxy team-mate Steven Gerrard said.
Gerrard, who was team-mates with Keane at Liverpool and has linked up with him again in America, said he would be “stunned” if the veteran striker failed to make Ireland’s squad for the tournament in France.
Keane, 35, scored five goals in qualification but was limited to a bit-part role in the closing stages and didn’t start any of the last four games.
“I’d be stunned if he is not in the squad,” Gerrard told Today with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1.
“I think Martin O’Neill will take him for his experience. He’s capable of scoring big goals at big moments and them players are very hard to come by.
I know he hasn’t played as much in the last couple of qualifiers and the play-offs but Martin’s had him alongside him on the bench. Robbie does a terrific job on the pitch but also off it as well and I’m sure he’ll want him around.
He added: “I don’t think you lose the hunger. I can only speak for myself but I know Robbie well enough to know that he won’t be happy being a squad player. He’ll want to push to try to get playing time.”
Liverpool signed Keane in the summer of 2008 for £19 million but he lasted just seven months before returning to Tottenham Hotspur.
“I don’t think that was all down to Robbie,” Gerrard explained.
“Robbie came and worked hard daily on the training pitch and scored some important goals for us.
These things happen in football – players move about in football and sometimes they don’t settle or it doesn’t work out for whatever reason. I think there was a bit of clash with Rafa Benitez maybe, but I certainly wanted him to stay around for a long time.
“He’s a very talented player and I like playing with him so I was sad to see him go.”
Gerrard brushed off the suggestion that both himself and Keane were vying for the same number 10 playmaker role at Anfield.
I was think it was more down to Rafa Benitez maybe trying to change the way Robbie played.
“For me, the reason we bought Robbie Keane was for him to play off a front man and cause damage between defence and midfield.
“Rafa was trying to change that and change his game and I don’t think Robbie was too happy with that. I think that’s where the clash came.
“I’m not sure it was down to me becoming a number 10.”
