Keane free to face England

Skipper Robbie Keane will be able to face England next week after the Los Angeles Galaxy granted him permission to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad.

The 32-year-old striker was ruled out of the friendly clashes with Roy Hodgson’s men at Wembley next Wednesday evening and Georgia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin the following Sunday after the MLS club initially declined to release him for the fixtures, which fall outside the FIFA international window.