Keane feeling the strain

THE encouraging news from Skopje, after the Irish team landed here last night at the Alexander the Great Airport, is that Robbie Keane is being tipped to win his fitness battle after an injury scare in training yesterday morning before the panel flew out of Dublin.

The Irish captain had been forced out of the session with what was later confirmed as a groin strain but it has since been confirmed that he will take part in training in Skopje this morning, with sources in the Irish camp also expressing confidence that Keane will be able to play in tomorrow night’s European Championship 2012 Qualifying Group B game.

It had been one of those up-and-at-em mornings out in Gannon Park yesterday, the Irish squad bringing a real zip and intensity to their final training session before departing for the airport and their flight to Macedonia.