Keane’s lack of match time at Spurs causing concern

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has learned the hard way that if he suggests one of his players in England could do with a move, it only ends up causing what he likes to call “a polemica” in the press.

But it doesn’t take too much reading between the diplomatic lines to appreciate that the Ireland manager is now seriously concerned that Robbie Keane is suffering from his lack of game time at Spurs — although not to the extent that Trapattoni feels the Irish team can afford to take the field without their captain and record goal-scorer.

Keane had a night to forget in front of goal in Zilina on Tuesday and while Trapattoni was philosophical about that costly penalty miss — “Maradona and Baggio have missed penalties” — he laid the blame for the striker’s other fluffed lines directly at his lack of match fitness.