February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Keane, who missed the 3-0 drubbing of Cyprus in Dublin last Saturday, rejoined the squad 24 hours later after making a quicker than anticipated recovery from a rib injury. He could be available for selection against the Swiss.
The 33-year-old midfielder had initially been expected to be out for three weeks when his injury was announced by Manchester United.
“When Roy withdrew from the squad [earlier], we had discussions with him and United about the possibility that he could return from his rib injury in time for the second match of our program,” Irish boss Brian Kerr said on the FAI web site.
Keane’s late inclusion is one of two major changes in the Irish squad that returns to Basel, where Kerr’s Euro’ 04 qualifying dream ended with a 2-0 loss to the Swiss in November 2003.
Defender John O’Shea, dropped because of a knee injury, is the other change.
A victory today will position the Republic at the top of Group 4, ahead of both the Swiss, who thrashed the Faroe Islands, 6-0, last Saturday, and France, who were held to a goalless tie in Paris by Israel.
Kerr will select his starting 11 from the following players: goalkeepers Shay Given, Nick Colgan and Paddy Kenny; defenders Steve Finnan, Kenny Cunningham, Andy O’Brien, Alan Maybury, Stephen Carr, Gary Doherty and Gary Breen; midfielders Alan Quinn, Roy Keane, Graham Kavanagh, Andy Reid, and Kevin Kilbane, and forwards Damien Duff, Alan Lee, Clinton Morrison and Robbie Keane.