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Agence France Presse
Oct 9 2011
Ireland's Keane given slim chance for Armenia game
(AFP)
DUBLIN - Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has been given only
a slim chance of recovering from a sore abductor muscle in time to
face Armenia in Tuesday's decisive Euro 2012 qualifier.
Keane had a scan on the problem on Saturday after complaining of
soreness following Ireland's 2-0 win over Andorra on Friday.
Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli admits the LA Galaxy striker
-- Ireland's record scorer with 51 goals -- has been struggling with
the problem since his last MLS match in America.
Tardelli believes there is still a chance Keane could recover but he
concedes the former Tottenham star is a major doubt for a fixture
which will decide if Giovanni Trapattoni's side clinch a place in the
Euro 2012 play-offs.
Ireland need a draw at the Aviva Stadium to stop third placed Armenia
overtaking them and Tardelli said: "Robbie has a little problem, but
we are hopeful he will recover. It will be very difficult, but we are
hopeful."
Keane and his team-mates endured a gruelling trip back from Andorra,
which involved a three-hour coach journey from the Pyrenean
principality to Barcelona and then a delayed flight of almost the same
length, eventually arriving back in Dublin early on Saturday morning.
The majority of the squad, with Keane the most high-profile exception,
were back in training on Sunday.
Among them was Stoke striker Jonathan Walters, who met up with his
colleagues on their return after missing the trip to Andorra with an
ankle injury.
Walters and West Brom pair Shane Long and Simon Cox are the leading
candidates to partner Kevin Doyle if Keane is sidelined.
"We have many options. We have Walters, Long, Cox - we have many
options," Tardelli added.
"We are confident in all our players. We have different solutions, but
we will wait and see."
Oct 9 2011
Ireland's Keane given slim chance for Armenia game
(AFP)
DUBLIN - Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has been given only
a slim chance of recovering from a sore abductor muscle in time to
face Armenia in Tuesday's decisive Euro 2012 qualifier.
Keane had a scan on the problem on Saturday after complaining of
soreness following Ireland's 2-0 win over Andorra on Friday.
Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli admits the LA Galaxy striker
-- Ireland's record scorer with 51 goals -- has been struggling with
the problem since his last MLS match in America.
Tardelli believes there is still a chance Keane could recover but he
concedes the former Tottenham star is a major doubt for a fixture
which will decide if Giovanni Trapattoni's side clinch a place in the
Euro 2012 play-offs.
Ireland need a draw at the Aviva Stadium to stop third placed Armenia
overtaking them and Tardelli said: "Robbie has a little problem, but
we are hopeful he will recover. It will be very difficult, but we are
hopeful."
Keane and his team-mates endured a gruelling trip back from Andorra,
which involved a three-hour coach journey from the Pyrenean
principality to Barcelona and then a delayed flight of almost the same
length, eventually arriving back in Dublin early on Saturday morning.
The majority of the squad, with Keane the most high-profile exception,
were back in training on Sunday.
Among them was Stoke striker Jonathan Walters, who met up with his
colleagues on their return after missing the trip to Andorra with an
ankle injury.
Walters and West Brom pair Shane Long and Simon Cox are the leading
candidates to partner Kevin Doyle if Keane is sidelined.
"We have many options. We have Walters, Long, Cox - we have many
options," Tardelli added.
"We are confident in all our players. We have different solutions, but
we will wait and see."