Keane out as Irish injury list mounts

STEVE STAUNTON’S preparations for the European Championship qualifiers have been badly hampered by the forced withdrawal of a number of key personnel ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Holland at Lansdowne Road.

Yesterday, striker and captain Robbie Keane, suffering from a thigh strain, was added to an injury list which also includes Richard Dunne (hamstring) and Shay Given (back).

Terry Dixon (Spurs), Stephen Ireland (Manchester City) and Alan Lee (Ipswich Town) have also withdrawn from the squad, forcing Staunton to call up Jonathan Douglas, the Blackburn Rovers player who was on loan to Leeds United last season, and Daryl Murphy, the former Waterford United striker who has been one of the few bright lights in Sunderland’s otherwise gloomy start to the season.