Quinn: We have to put Roy row behind us

Niall Quinn has told his Ireland team-mates that they must do their duty to the public back home - and that means forgetting about the controversial departure of Roy Keane from the squad.

The Irish squad arrived in Izumo yesterday minus former skipper Keane, who was banished from the party on Thursday night following a verbal bust-up with manager Mick McCarthy.

They will spend six days there as they step up their preparations for next Saturday’s World Cup Group E opener against Cameroon.

Veteran striker Quinn, arguably one of the most respected players in the Irish squad, is sad that Manchester United skipper Keane is no longer part of the squad, but he believes it is time to move on.

‘‘We wouldn’t be doing our duty to the public at home if we sit and dwell,’’ Quinn told the Irish Independent.

‘‘It’s been an astonishing week, incredibly hard for everyone and it’s left us all with heavy hearts, on all sides.

‘‘But I suppose it would be a fault to dwell on it as we’ve over three weeks now to make the tournament a success. As callous as it sounds, we’ve got to try and forget about what’s happened, to look forward rather than back.

‘‘As we flew to Japan yesterday morning, without Roy, I’m spending my time looking back and asking myself ‘How did it go this far?’ I think everyone else is too.’’

Quinn is convinced Keane would have lived up to his billing as one of the best players in the world and been one of the stars of the tournament had he not fallen out with McCarthy and been sent home.

He said: ‘‘I feel gutted for Roy that he’s missed the chance to show the world what a great player he is.

‘‘I would have said this tournament was tailor-made for him, he’s in the prime of his career and I’d really thought that when they totted up points, and the Opta Index for best player of the tournament, I expected Roy to be up there. Naturally, he’s a huge loss to us.’’

Keane said he planned to retire from international football after this World Cup, and Quinn does not think the Manchester United star can ever wear the national shirt again while McCarthy is manager of Ireland.

‘‘I would hate to put the death knell on his Irish career for him but after what happened at Thursday’s turbulent meeting in Saipan, as long as Mick McCarthy is in charge, I don’t see Roy playing for Ireland again,’’ said Quinn.

‘‘That’s not a startling revelation, that’s just fact. Ultimately, having witnessed what happened at that meeting, there’s no argument with that statement, as tough as it sounds.

‘‘That 10 minutes or so in Saipan on Thursday was unprecedented and while I’m loathe to give exact details on references to what was said, it was clearly understood by everyone at the meeting that Roy and Mick could never be in the same Irish set-up again - that’s how strong it was.

‘‘I’m gutted that he’s not here with us, that he’s not going to play in the World Cup finals, but I can’t look any further than Roy’s door for blame.’’

Meanwhile, Mark Kinsella is the man who will today attempt to fill the shoes of the departed Keane.

The Charlton midfielder will partner Matt Holland in the team to face Hiroshima.

Kinsella is one of three changes to the team which lost 2-1 to Nigeria last week, which have been forced on manager Mick McCarthy by injury and his sacking of Keane.

Gary Kelly comes in at right back to replace Fulham’s Steve Finnan, who has an ankle problem, and Manchester City’s Richard Dunne returns to partner new captain Steve Staunton in the heart of defence. He fills in for Wimbledon’s Kenny Cunningham, who has a hamstring injury.

Finnan, Cunningham, Gary Breen (neck) and Lee Carsley (thigh) did not join in training with the rest of the squad yesterday afternoon, but are all expected to be available for the World Cup Group E opener against Cameroon a week today.