Keane now a huge doubt as Delaney set to start in defence

Robbie Keane is a significant doubt for Ireland’s match away to Germany tonight through an ankle injury, with interim manager Noel King set to make a final decision on the captain early today.

The country’s leading scorer injured his ankle in training on Tuesday, and the knock has been of sufficient seriousness to warrant LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena contacting King to see if he should return to the United States.

The stand-in Irish boss rejected that, but will consult with the MLS club today to see if Keane taking a pain-killing injection is possible or necessary.

“He got a little kick on it,” King said. “He’s not training tonight. We’re leaving him out as a precaution and will make a decision in the morning. He still has a chance.”

“Robbie’s been one of the leading lights, one of the leading scorers in Europe. If he doesn’t make it we won’t be happy but we’ll get on with it.”

Keane’s injury means King will also delay a decision on the Irish captaincy, but admitted that the situation will not affect his formation plans.

Although the system is still unknown, it is likely that one of Shane Long, Kevin Doyle or Anthony Stokes will start as the lone frontman in the event of the 33-year-old’s absence.

There was one conspicuous hint as regards the starting line-up, with Crystal Palace’s Damien Delaney standing in for Keane in the pre-match press conference. The Corkman is expected to start at centre-half, and therefore finally make his competitive debut at the age of 32. Delaney took a philosophical approach to that, and stated he just wants to play with a “smile on his face” and enjoy it.

“It’s been a long road for me personally,” Delaney admitted, but insisted that even “stranger things” are possible and that Ireland can win.

“Noel has been brilliant since he came in and making us understand that to get anything against a team of the calibre of Germany you have to have a plan and buy into that plan.”