February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The 33 year-old midfielder suffered a knee injury in the win, forcing United to pull him from the squad.
“Roy was withdrawn by Manchester United. He had a pain killing injection before the game on Saturday and didn’t finish the game,” Ireland manager Brian Kerr said on the FAI web site.
United boss Alex Ferguson, a major influence on Keane’s international availability for most of his Manchester career, told reporters after the Birmingham game of his reluctance to release his skipper for the midweek friendly.
“It is not wise for him to play, he needs a break,” Ferguson insisted.
Keane also missed Ireland’s last match, a 1-0 victory over Croatia at Lansdowne Road.
By press time, Keane was the only notable absentee from the squad announced by Kerr last week to test a skilful Portuguese side, drilled by Brazil’s 2002 World Cup winning boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Chelsea star Damien Duff, the Republic’s all-time leading scorer Robbie Keane, goalie Shay Given, Manchester United utility man John O’Shea and veterans Kenny Cunningham, Gary Breen and Kevin Kilbane are all expected to play against the Portugal as Ireland warm up for their March 26 World Cup tie in Israel.
Scolari, meanwhile, flew into Dublin with a strong squad that included several big names from the English Premiership League.
O’Shea’s United compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo is the pick of the lot. The 20 year-old is likely to line-up along side the Chelsea duo of Paulo Ferreira and Tiago, Fulham striker Luis Boa Morte, Barcelona playmaker Deco and forward Pauleta of Paris St Germain.
The Portuguese, who will be missing just two regulars in Chelsea center-back Ricardo Carvalho and Porto midfielder Maniche (both are injured), have the best scoring record in the European World Cup qualifiers.
IRISH FOES
Ireland’s main World Cup qualifying rivals are also in action today.
France, who are in a three-way tie with the Republic and Israel at the top of Group 4, host Sweden in Paris; Israel entertain Croatia in Jerusalem, while fourth-place Switzerland play the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.
WINDSOR AFFAIR
Northern Ireland are not standing pat ahead of their Group 6 qualifier with England at Old Trafford next month. Lawrie Sanchez’s men face Canada at Windsor Park in Belfast today.
Sanchez named the following squad on Monday: goalkeepers — Roy Carroll (Manchester United) and Maik Taylor (Birmingham City); defenders — George McCartney (Sunderland), Tony Capaldi (Plymouth Argyle), Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Colin Murdock (Crewe Alexandra), Aaron Hughes (Newcastle United), Mark Clyde (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Chris Baird (Southampton) and Mark Williams (Milton Keynes Dons).
Midfielders — Damien Johnson (Birmingham City), Keith Gillespie (Leicester City), Jeff Whitley (Sunderland), Philip Mulryne (Norwich City), Steve Davis (Aston Villa) Tommy Doherty (Bristol City); and forwards – David Healy (Leeds United), Andrew Smith (Preston North End), Andrew Kirk (Boston United) and Steve Jones (Crewe Alexandra).
MIDWEEK SCHEDULE
There are three rescheduled World Cup qualifiers as well in the midweek schedule of friendlies in Europe.
The fixtures are (home teams listed first) — Macedonia-Andorra (Group 1); Greece-Denmark, Albania-Ukraine (Group 2); and Spain-San Marino (Group 7).
High profile friendlies include England-Holland, Wales-Hungary, and Germany-Argentina.