Keane injury may open door for Walters

JONATHAN WALTERS’ chances of making his senior debut for Ireland against Norway next week appear to have improved with the news that captain Robbie Keane has been forced to withdraw from the final 25-man squad for the friendly game at the Aviva Stadium.

Keane injured an ankle in training at Spurs, a subsequent scan showing minor ligament damage.

But his enforced absence opens the door to a first appearance at senior level for Stoke City striker Walters who has impressed so far this season with the Premier League club.

The FAI have also announced that Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark could yet feature next week.

The Harrow-born defender, who captained England at underage level, had recently declared for the Republic but, with FIFA still to process hisapplication, he was initially left out of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the Norway game. However, now he has been called into the panel after latest updates from FIFA suggested that there is still a chance they will be able to consider his application to play for Ireland in time for next week’s match.

Meanwhile, along with Keane, Caleb Folan and Paul McShane have been forced to withdraw with knee and thigh injuries respectively.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND squad: S Given (Manchester City), K Westwood (Coventry City), J O’Shea (Manchester United), C Clark (Aston Villa), S Coleman (Everton), R Dunne (Aston Villa), S St Ledger (Preston), G Cunningham (Manchester City), K Foley (Wolves), K Kilbane (Hull City), S Kelly (Fulham), D O’Dea (Celtic), M Wilson (Stoke City), D Gibson (Manchester United), G Whelan (Stoke City), P Green (Derby County), L Lawrence (Portsmouth), S Hunt (Wolves), A McGeady (Spartak Moscow), K Treacy (Preston), D Duff (Fulham), K Fahey (Birmingham City), J Walters (Stoke), K Doyle (Wolves), S Long (Reading).