Injury may rule Keane out of Swiss clash

BRIAN KERR will have an anxious wait to see if Roy Keane is fit for what could be a make or break World Cup qualifier against Switzerland at Lansdowne Road next month.

The Manchester United captain, who was already set to miss the Cyprus game through suspension, has been ruled out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury. But if the injury takes longer to heal, the Corkman could be a doubt for the final group game against the Swiss.

The 33-year-old suffered a recurrence of the injury which had originally kept him out of United’s pre-season tour to the Far East when he was introduced as a substitute in the latter stages of Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Keane felt the problem again in training and was immediately withdrawn from the squad which flew out to Spain for the Champions League clash with Villarreal.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped his influential captain would be available for Sunday’s key Barclays Premiership encounter with Liverpool at Anfield.

However, further tests have confirmed Keane will be sidelined for at least a fortnight after which the player’s fitness will be reassessed.

Aside from United’s next two fixtures it also means the Irishman will miss the Premiership home game with Blackburn on September 24 and the following week’s European encounter with Benfica.

Ferguson had already revealed that Alan Smith will continue to deputise for Keane following his summer conversion from the forward line.