Miller

LIAM MILLER looked sharp enough in training with the Irish squad yesterday, and Steve Staunton has said nothing to suggest that there might be a concern about the player’s match readiness. However, Roy Keane has revealed that the Cork midfielder picked up a groin injury in Sunderland’s 3-2 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday.

The Sunderland boss, while welcoming his player’s international call-up, also described Miller’s initial stand-by status as “a strange one.”

Said Keane: “Liam did have a slight groin so we hope he will be fit enough to be available for selection. He has played in our last couple of games and done well. There’s no doubt that he’s a talented player and he played well against Arsenal. For him to be just on stand-by was a strange one.