Keane lashes out at Ireland selection policy

ROY KEANE has hit out at the Republic of Ireland’s international selection policy, claiming that some players get picked regardless of whether they are involved with their clubs, while others – including some of his Ipswich squad – are always overlooked.

Keane, who has previously expressed his admiration for Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni, is surprised that his keeper Brian Murphy is amongst those to have been omitted from the party taking on Russia and Slovakia in Euro 2012 qualifiers.

“I can’t believe that Murph isn’t in the Irish squad,” he said. “But certain players seem to get picked all the time and others I’m left scratching my head about. People like David Norris, and Jon Walters last year, you don’t know what these boys have to do to get selected.”

Neither Ireland B international Walters, now with Stoke, and Norris, linked with a call-up since his Plymouth days, have ever been included in a full squad. Murphy has received senior calls since his Bohemians days but is yet to win a cap.

Asked whether he still feels there’s a problem with the Ireland’s selection policy, Keane said: “Absolutely.”

The former Ireland skipper would prefer every member of the squad to be playing regularly for their clubs but concedes that that’s not a realistic prospect.

“In an ideal world you want them all in the starting XI, but there are players for Ireland not in their starting XIs but who automatically get picked and automatically start. There are one or two of our boys here who should certainly be in the squad. But that’s for another day. I’ve said enough."