Kerr's options improving

IN with the new, in with the old. With Robbie Keane and Stephen Elliott both in action for the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night, fans caught a glimpse of how Brian Kerr's strikeforce might evolve on the road to Germany.

But only a glimpse. As the wide-right man in a three-pronged attack, Elliott was cast more in the role of provider than predator, solittle enough was seen of the goal-threatening talent that had Irish captain Kenny Cunningham dubbing him a fox in the box earlier this week.

Instead, that role fell, as ever, to Robbie Keane, who notched up his 24th international goal to secure a merited 1-0 win.