Kerr not gloating over Roy return

MANAGER Brian Kerr insisted yesterday that Roy Keane’s return was not an occasion of personal satisfaction for him but welcomed the availability of a player he described as ‘one of Ireland’s greatest’.

Kerr was speaking after Ireland’s training session in Malahide yesterday when a squad of 26 players worked in glorious sunshine in preparation for tonight’s match against Romania and matches over the next nine days against Nigeria, Jamaica and the Netherlands.

Kerr promised that all of the players in the squad would see some playing time over the four matches and suggested that experience had shown that one or two of the younger players would come through to figure in the World Cup qualifiers next September.

He said he would delay selection of the team to play Romania until he had further fitness reports on Keane, John O’Shea and Liam Miller but said signs were good that all three would be available.

Much of his press conference focused on Keane and his return after an absence of two years and when asked what satisfaction the return of Keane gave him, he responded: “It’s not an issue of personal pleasure for me.

“I’m just doing a job of trying to get the best team possible on the pitch. The best team that is fit and eligible to us.

“It’s not about personal pleasure. It’s part of the job ... sometimes tracking down potential players good enough to play, as I did in the underage set-up and continue to do, or monitor players’ fitness and ability and desire.

“I’m satisfied that Roy has made himself available. The path is there. He’s been a great player for Ireland, one of our greatest ever and I’m delighted that it’s come to this stage.”

He added: “This series of matches is going to be a tough four games. A tough spell, but great matches for the players to be involved in.

“I’m sure some of the young players will emerge as they have done in the past. People have doubted the benefits of friendlies but the reality is you cannot throw players into competitive matches without some experience in international football.”

He spoke of the youthful nature of his squad and said: “For many of them this will be their first taste of real international football. We have a few people with very few caps and a few with 50 or 60 caps, but a lot in the low numbers. It’s a chance for them for get caps and bring them along.”

Kerr said he had been encouraged by the progress of younger players in the past 12 months and the possibility of others in the squad joining them.

He said: “Whether they emerge for September and October is questionable. It’s more likely to be from the group we’ve used already than from the group we’ll use in the next two weeks.”

He also spoke of the effect of the retirements after the last World Cup.

“The retirements of Steve Staunton, Niall Quinn and Alan Kelly ... I felt at the time that as we got involved in the European games last year, it was too many too quickly.

“Roy (Keane) being available again, it gives us an extra player.”

Kerr spoke of the positive influence of the more experienced players on the newcomers.

“Players like Shay Given, Kenny (Cunningham), Matt Holland and Mark (Kinsella) give us experience. You see it at club level with Kenny at Birmingham. Roy has continued to be that at Manchester United and of course he can help players.”

He suggested that Romania will provide a game that will be as entertaining as Ireland’s most recent encounters with Brazil and the Czech Republic.

“Romania are a really good side. They’ve played some smashing football recently, beating Germany and Italy, and I’m looking forward to a tough match and an entertaining one.”

Ireland squad: Given (Newcastle Utd), Colgan (Hibernian), Kenny (Sheffield Utd), Maybury (Hearts), Finnan (Liverpool), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O’Brien (Newcastle Utd), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Clarke (Stoke City), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Douglas (Blackburn Rovers), O’Shea (Manchester Utd), Miller (Celtic), Roy Keane (Manchester Utd), Reid (Nottingham Forest), Rowlands (QPR), Doyle (Coventry City), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), McPhail (Leeds Utd), Kinsella (West Bromwich Albion), McAteer (Sunderland), Barrett (Coventry City), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), McGeady (Celtic), Lee (Cardiff City), Connolly (West Ham Utd), Morrison (Birmingham City).