New era for Keane in green

ROY KEANE yesterday stressed that his return to international duty after a two-year absence was to help Ireland qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006.

Keane, who came through a training session and fitness test yesterday, is virtually certain to play part of the Republic's friendly against Romania at Lansdowne Road tonight (7.30 pm).

Manager Brian Kerr said he will wait to see whether there is any adverse reaction overnight from Keane's injured knee and thigh before finalising his team selection.

It was clear from Kerr and Keane's up-beat attitude at yesterday's press conference that the Manchester United skipper is happy to again wear the international shirt.

Asked how hungry he was to return to international football he responded: "Fairly hungry, you know. I was disappointed to miss the last match but unfortunately my hamstring wasn't right and hopefully I'll be able to get back into the swing of things tomorrow night."

When asked why he chose to come back he answered: "There's lots of things really. When I first met Brian [Kerr] the decision was medically not to come back and I felt that was the right decision at the time.

"But after a year or so I felt I was managing [my hip] a lot better and I felt it was the right time to come back. But obviously I had to speak to my own club manager and I had to speak to Brian first and everything went well and that was it."

Asked to elaborate on his reasons for returning he said: "There were lots of reasons and I feel I've made the right decision and I'm looking forward to the challenge to try and help the team qualify."

Asked about differences in the camp since his last involvement he said: "I don't want to be going over old ground but things had to change. I was never looking for perfection with the Irish team, but I was always looking for progress and I feel that has happened in the last year or two and that was very important.

"Obviously, I speak to John O'Shea quite a bit and he told me things had improved and all that, of course, comes into the equation."

Asked what he believed he could add to the team he said: "The team has obviously done very well over the last year or two and I felt the priority is always to qualify and I felt maybe the team lacked a bit of experience.

"All I said to Brian when I met him was that I'd like to make myself available. I know there's no guarantees with that and I'll have to be playing well for United before he's going to pick me.

"That's the way I've always gone throughout my career, I've never taken anything for granted, I've worked hard and that's what I will continue to do for the remainder of my career.

"There's been a lot going through my head over the last year or two. There was indecision in my mind, you know, regarding was it right to come back because obviously Brian was building a new team. With my hip situation I wasn't sure what way things were going to go over the last few months. I think it was January, I decided maybe I'd like to come back but I had to give it time and again I had to sit down with Brian and see what his plans were. Fortunately, the door wasn't shut for me and the opportunity was there for me to come back.

"As I said, all I've done is made myself available for selection, I'm taking nothing for granted.

"As long as I'm happy, my family are happy. They've always been very supportive of me and I'm sure they'll continue to do so.

Had he missed international football? "Throughout my Irish career I've always enjoyed the matches but, again, without going over old ground, I was really frustrated with what was going on around me."

Inevitably, however, he was probed about the previous management: "I felt people didn't have the same targets as me and that's very frustrating because you know football is a tough game and everyone needs to try and aim for the right things, the same things, and I didn't feel that was the happening, so it was frustrating.

"Of course, I've missed the matches. I've always been proud to play for my country; it was something I always wanted to do since I was a kid and I've always felt it was an honour. I didn't feel playing for Ireland was a career move, it was something I always wanted to do.

"I felt I was losing a battle when I went to the World Cup in Japan and it was right for me not to be there because it was a waste of time."

He confessed to being surprised at the amount of publicity and criticism that had arisen: "I suppose I've been a little bit surprised, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. It wasn't about popularity; I was just trying to do what I felt was right and people are entitled to their opinions, but people I've met have been very supportive since I've come back.

"People are going to criticise you but you can't please everyone. You have to do what you think is right and unfortunately people are going to criticise you for that. That's part of life."

"Lots of players in the squad have changed and I'm still getting to know one or two of the young lads and today was the first training session I've had with them. But I've seen lots of these lads on the television and there's generally lots of talent and hopefully I can be a guide for some of them.

"The whole idea of me coming back is to try and help the team qualify that's the priority and I think we are capable of doing it.

"Without a doubt, that's the aim and if everybody has got the same aim then I think we've got a great chance but it's going to be hard.

"Brian and the staff and the other players have been good to me since I came back and I don't feel there are any problems; let's just get on with it.

"A lot has been said in two years. I wrote my book and I spoke with the people who did the Genesis report. You cannot change the past, but you live and learn and hopefully we can all learn from it. I certainly have and it was right for me not to be there."

Asked to explain what he meant he responded: "I've learned lots of things but I'm not going to go into details.

"Hopefully it's not just me who has learnt, but also the FAI, the Irish media, the previous manager, I think everybody has got to look at themselves."

Keane will miss the next three matches against Jamaica and Nigeria in London, and Netherlands in Amsterdam over the next nine days but when asked whether he intended to play in friendly matches for Ireland he said: "I came over for the last friendly and I'm here now so hopefully that will answer the questions."

When asked how far Ireland might have progressed in the World Cup finals in 2002 had he continued to play he said: "We don't want to keep looking back there, it's at an end. I'm not really sure how far we could have gone."

Your target was to win it?

"What was the point in going?"