Sammon starter on the menu

While inexperience turned out to be a help rather than a hindrance in Stockholm on Friday, Giovanni Trapattoni will doubtless be deeply regretting the loss of his most experienced player of all for tomorrow night’s game against Austria.

Yesterday afternoon in Malahide, the manager was remaining upbeat about the prospects of Robbie Keane recovering from a calf strain but, by tea-time, a scan had revealed the problem was severe enough for Ireland’s skipper and record goal-scorer to be immediately ruled out of contention for the World Cup qualifier at the Aviva.

That also meant an earlier than expected recall for Kevin Doyle, with Trapattoni this time contacting him personally by phone after the Wolves striker had previously expressed disappointment at being notified of his omission from the latest squad by text.