Keane warns of Berbatov threat

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has put his defenders on red alert to the threat Dimitar Berbatov poses to their World Cup dreams.

The Irish would go to the top of Group 8 with victory over Bulgaria at the Vassil Levski Stadium in Sofia tomorrow night, jumping ahead of reigning champions Italy.

However, defeat would slash the gap between them and the third-placed Bulgarians to just two points with Stanimir Stoilov’s side having played a game fewer.

The sides drew 1-1 in Dublin in March, when Kevin Kilbane’s late own goal handed the visitors a point after Richard Dunne had got Ireland off to a dream start.

However, they were missing Berbatov, Martin Petrov and Valeri Bojinov that night, and all three could return to make life intensely difficult for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side.

Keane is acutely aware of the respective dangers each of those men represent, although his knowledge of Manchester United striker Berbatov’s powers is encyclopaedic after spending two seasons playing alongside him at Tottenham.

Keane said: “Of course, he is very dangerous. He is a fantastic player.

“I had the privilege to play with him for two years at Tottenham and he is a massive danger to us, so we have to be wary of him.

“They also have other players who are just as important to the Bulgarian team, but he is certainly a threat.

“He has got quality – he is good on the ball, he’s great in the air, he can score a goal, so we will certainly have to be wary of him.”

Ireland were disappointed to have emerged from the home game with only a draw, but they bounced back swiftly to record the same result against Italy in Bari to not only keep their qualification hopes alive, but to ensure that they still have a chance of winning the group.

However, only a positive result tomorrow night will keep their bid on track with a difficult trip to Cyprus awaiting them in September before Italy and Montenegro head for Croke Park.

But such is the confidence Trapattoni has bred into his team – they remain unbeaten in six competitive games and have lost just once in 11 fixtures under the Italian – they firmly believe they can go anywhere and not come away empty-handed.

Keane said: “We are as good as we have been for certainly a few years.

“As a team, you have to have a belief that you can go into games and that you can win them, and we certainly have that at the moment.

“You are going into games knowing you can win them, and that’s what we are doing at the moment.

“We have that belief in the squad that no matter who plays or what players we can bring in, they can do a job for you, and we have that.

“The strength that we have is that we are a team. There are no individuals, we play together as a team and we win together – and if we lose together, we lose as a team.

“We have got a lot of characters in that team as well. We have a good balance at the moment.”

That togetherness will be tested tomorrow night with Sunderland full-back Paul McShane having joined Kevin Doyle on the casualty list with an ankle problem, although midfielder Glenn Whelan is expected to shake off a calf injury to retain his place.

John O’Shea will replace McShane at right-back as Preston defender Sean St Ledger earns a first competitive start in the middle alongside Richard Dunne.

Hull striker Caleb Folan too is likely to get the nod to partner Keane in attack in Doyle’s absence.

Asked if he had picked his team, Trapattoni said: “Ninety per cent, yes. I will decide after training this evening.”