Roy Keane has admitted that Ireland face an uphill battle under Stephen Kenny and that the Boys in Green have a 'real lack of quality' among their ranks.
The Republic of Ireland legend, who was assistant manager under Martin O'Neill until November 2018, reckons that the absence of a consistent goal scorer presents a 'major problem'.
Kenny has endured a turbulent start to his reign and his side travel to Finland tomorrow as he looks for his first win in charge.
A depleted Ireland were beaten in a penalty shootout by Slovakia in a Euro 2020 playoff last Thursday while a positive Covid-19 test meant that Kenny was without five players for a 0-0 draw to Wales yesterday.
"You look at the Ireland squad at the moment and the players coming through, there is a real lack of quality," he told ITV.
"It's tough going. When you don't have a goal scorer, you're constantly under pressure as a team and as a manager.
"The last week has been tough with the poor result the other night (in Slovakia), players pulling out with coronavirus and without someone to put the ball in the net, you are always struggling.
"Only for Robbie Keane over the last 10, 15, 20 years there has not been a regular goal scorer so you are constantly under pressure. It's a major problem for Ireland."
