Cox ready to fill Robbie’s boots

SIMON COX was one among a number of Irish players who found it impossible to sleep during the squad’s arduous trip home from the Pyrenees over the weekend and he may well have endured another restless repose last night.

With Robbie Keane almost certainly ruled out of tomorrow’s decisive European qualifier against Armenia, the spotlight now turns towards Cox, his West Brom team-mate Shane Long and Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters.

One of them will be told today that they will start alongside Kevin Doyle. Form and experiences points to Long as the logical choice and Cox almost seemed inclined to agree last night given his low expectations prior to this double-header.