SOCCER/IRISH IN BRITAIN:ROBBIE KEANE may see a good deal more first-team action for Spurs between now and Christmas after it was confirmed that Jermain Defoe has undergone surgery to repair ankle ligament damage sustained in England's European Championship qualifier against Switzerland this week.
It had originally been estimated that Defoe would be out for six weeks but that timeframe was doubled by the club yesterday leaving Keane along with Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to battle it out for the striking roles in Harry Redknapp’s side during what is a key period for the club.
Defoe is set to miss 13 Premier League and six Champions League matches for the Londoners if the new schedule outlined for his recovery proves to be correct. It could be a major opportunity for Keane who has yet to start a competitive game since the summer despite enjoying a good pre-season.
Redknapp, as it happens, is believed to have been trying to buy a striker during the transfer window that could, in his opinion, have played more effectively up front by himself than any of his current squad members.
His intention was apparently to change his side’s formation to 4-5-1, or at least have the option of doing so, but having failed to secure any of the players he viewed as having the potential to fulfil the role, it seems he will stick with choosing two from three, starting today when his team take on West Brom away.
Darron Gibson and Andy Keogh could also benefit from injuries to club-mates. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson’s options in midfield are limited by the absence through injury of Anderson and Michael Carrick. Carrick’s Achilles tendon injury, in particular, would appear to open the door for Gibson to at least edge his way back on to the bench over the next three or four week’s after watching all of United’s early-season games from the stands.
There will be some pressure on the 22-year-old to make progress at club level between now and the start of October when he will most likely come face to face with Giovanni Trapattoni for the first time since reacting dismissively to the veteran Italian’s suggestion that he might be better off moving away from Old Trafford in order to secure first-team football.
Keogh, meanwhile, could be in line to make his first start for Cardiff City since arriving on loan from Wolves due to Jay Bothroyd’s calf strain. The Dubliner acknowledged during the week he had agreed to the move in order to play more and, in turn, get the chance to impress Trapattoni and it appears his chance may arrive a little sooner than expected.
Fulham’s Damien Duff will have a late test on the calf injury that kept him out of the Republic of Ireland’s two qualifiers before Mark Hughes names his team to face Wolves. Stephen Kelly looks set to start at left back for the Londoners again with the defender’s prospects boosted by the fact new signing Carlos Salcido’s return from international duty has been delayed by poor weather in Mexico.
Shay Given, who is likely to be on the bench again as Manchester City host Blackburn Rovers this afternoon, has had a speeding case adjourned for three weeks so the 34-year-old can enter a plea with regard to a secondary charge of failing to produce his licence. The Donegalman, who already has three penalty points as a result of a similar incident two years ago, had entered a guilty plea by post after being charged with driving at 75mph in a 50-mile an hour zone in Manchester.
Anthony Stokes is set to make his Celtic debut against Hearts today. The Republic of Ireland under-21 international could be united with former Sunderland club-mate Daryl Murphy in the SPL leaders’ attack.
