The Republic of Ireland manager, Martin O’Neill, will let Robbie Keane decide whether he is willing to face Scotland on Saturday evening after a double tragedy involving the striker’s family.
It was confirmed on Friday morning that Stephen Harris had died in a Dublin hospital after being involved in an accident in a sewer two days earlier. His brother, Alan, was killed at the scene. Both are cousins of Keane, who had been expected to lead the Ireland forward line in the crucial European Championship qualifying tie against Scotland.
“It was obviously very bad news this morning,” said O’Neill. “So he is not feeling great, I must admit. It is obviously very difficult for the family. He is quite down at the moment. I am hoping he will come round. Whether he feels he wants to participate in the game tomorrow, it will be entirely his decision.”
Keane, 34, who arrived in Dublin this week from his home in Los Angeles, has trained as normal with the squad. “I don’t think you could ever question his professionalism,” O’Neill said. “It is how he is feeling within himself as much as anything else. He is not great, not great at all.”
Keane’s team-mate John O’Shea added the squad would rally round Keane, who has scored 65 times in 139 international appearances.
O’Shea said. “I echo the sentiments of the manager. Our thoughts are with the family. We will look after Robbie. He has good morale around him. If he needs whatever support it will be there for him. He is a very good professional but sometimes football does take a back seat when something like that happens.”
The Scotland manager, Gordon Strachan, who managed Keane at Coventry City, said: “All we can do is extend our sympathies, especially me because I know the lad.”
O’Neill’s preparations have been further hampered by a hamstring injury to his influential winger Aiden McGeady. The Everton player sat out training on Friday morning and is regarded as a major doubt to face Scotland. Should he miss out James McClean would be the favourite to take his place.
“He is a bit sore from a few things that he has been doing,” O’Neill said. “He felt not bad on Sunday [against England]. He is sore now. We will see how he is. He sat out today as a precaution as much as anything else.
“If he feels he is ready to go and start the game that is something we would look at obviously. If he feels he can participate in some of the match, again, because he has been a very important player for us in this campaign, I will give him as much time as he needs.
“He is feeling sore at the moment. He felt all right in the match on Sunday. I think it is an ongoing problem he has had now for a considerable time.
“Aiden is a very fine player, he has been terrific for us in the competition. In the last game against Poland, I don’t think he was very fit and I think that showed a little bit but overall he is a fine player. At his very best, he is capable of unlocking any defence, I feel. He is an important player for us.”
