Keane an injury doubt for Macedonia clash

Robbie Keane has emerged as an injury doubt for Saturday night’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia.

Giovanni Trapattoni's assistant Marco Tardelli has said that the Republic of Ireland skipper is suffering with a leg injury he got in training and they are monitoring him ahead of the clash.

Keane’s strike secured a 2-1 victory over Macedonia in the Aviva Stadium and the completion of a double would leave the Republic in a strong position to stake their claim for a place in the finals when hostilities resume next season.

Trapattoni and his players headed out from Dublin this afternoon after completing their preparations in Malahide with the manager facing a series of tough decisions over the likes of St Ledger, who has not played in 10 weeks, Kevin Kilbane following his play-off final heartache with Huddersfield, and Achilles victim Keith Andrews.

The Italian said: “We always have to think about this situation. It’s an away game and we need experienced players without fear and who have personality.”

However, the message from St Ledger is that he is ready to put his body on the line for his country despite Trapattoni’s understandable concerns.

He said: “I can understand that, and whatever decision he makes, you have to go with it.

“There’s always a risk – [Kevin] Doyle played and came on for Wolves and he said he was fine, but he tweaked it again and missed these games.

“There’s always a risk, but there’s risk for every player who goes out in a game.”

Sean St Ledger is desperate to make up for lost time as he attempts to force his way into the Republic of Ireland team.

The 26-year-old Preston defender has been out of action with a knee injury since the middle of March and just last week was not even in the frame to play in Skopje.

However, his condition has improved so rapidly that manager Giovanni Trapattoni is now considering him as a genuine option to return to a defence deprived of the services of stalwart Richard Dunne through suspension.

For St Ledger, who sat by helplessly as his club’s fight for npower Championship survival ultimately came up short, the chance to finish a difficult season on a high note is one he is determined not to miss.

Asked what he had told Trapattoni about his fitness, he said: “I told him I’m fit and I want to play.

“I want to play for my country. I love playing football, whether it’s in a park or... I watch all kinds football on TV.

“I want to play football as long as I can. I’ve been playing for eight years. It’s something I love and there’s only a few years left.

“It’s a great profession to be in. Every kid wants to do this.”

A veteran of the World Cup campaign which came to a controversial end in an infamous Paris play-off, St Ledger’s experience could prove vital at the Philip II Stadium as Ireland attempt to cement their place among the front-runners in Group B.

They, like group leaders Slovakia and Russia in second, have collected 10 points from their five games to date, the last three of them against the Macedonians in Dublin in March.

Trapattoni admitted his concern ahead of the first game over Macedonia’s aerial threat from set-pieces, and their physical approach at the Aviva Stadium did little to disabuse him of the notion.

In the circumstances, he will hope to field all the experience he can at the back with Manchester City Shay Given now back among the fold and John O’Shea and Kilbane having joined up following their club commitments.