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| The two Keanes, Roy and Robbie, make themselves heard at Ireland’s final training session before tomorrow’s first-leg match (© Inpho) |
Mick McCarthy this afternoon named the 11 players to start Ireland's crucial World Cup play-off game at Lansdowne Road tomorrow night, and the good news is captain Roy Keane has been deemed fit enough to take his place.
The Corkman has missed the last five games for Manchester United due to a persistent knee injury, but since resuming training yesterday his inclusion in the team has never been a genuine doubt. Even still, Keane says he is unsure how the knee will hold up.
"I'm just taking it one game at a time at the moment. Though the injury has settled down a but in the last few days, I need one or two games to see how it will react. I don't want to go into the details of the injury, it's nothing major, but if I'm not happy with it after this game I may go see the specialist again," he said.
Elsewhere in the starting line-up, McCarthy rewarded Steve Finnan for his excellent displays against Holland and Cyprus by giving him the right-back berth ahead of Gary Kelly.
"It wasn't a difficult decision to pick Steve because he's been excellent for us and is playing regularly at his club," said McCarthy, "The difficult bit was leaving out Gary Kelly becuase he's been brilliant for us aswell. He's taken the news very well, particularly as he's going through a tough time at the moment at his club too".
McCarthy also opted to omit Mark Kinsella, another player who would have been an automatic choice just a few matches ago. Ipswich Town's Matt Holland, perhaps because he's bagged three goals in his 13 appearences for his country, will partner Roy Keane in the middle instead.
"Again, it wasn't a tough decision to select Matty" said McCarthy "but it was disappointing to have to tell Kins he's not playing, it's not something I liked having to do. Consider how well he's done for us - he's been wonderful. But so has Matt Holland".
Kevin Kilbane is another who has not played recently for his club due to injury, but, perhaps inevitably due to the absence of Damien Duff and Mark Kennedy, he retains his slot on the left-hand side of midfield.
"I've no concerns about these players missing a couple of games before playing," said McCarthy. "It's not like in my day when if you weren't playing you might go out and have a couple of pints.
"The fitness levels these days are much higher, particularly for the young lads. They're well able to come straight back into it".
For once McCarthy had a wealth of options at centre-back, and he decided to keep faith with veteran Steve Staunton and call back Coventry captain Gary Breen, who, according to the manager, has been playing "very well at for his club recently."
Unsurprisingly, Robbie Keane will be partnered by Niall Quinn, whose height can be expected to trouble the Iranian defence.
Republic of Ireland team:
Shay Given, Steve Finnan, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton, Ian Harte, Jason McAteer, Roy Keane, Matt Holland, Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane, Niall Quinn