Ireland's injury situation showed no sign of improvement as the week's second day of training wrapped up in Abbotstown yesterday but Roy Keane was in glass half full mode as updated the press.
The former Manchester United star was once infamous for his treatment of team-mates he felt were not at least trying to live up to his own high standards but he warmly praised this squad for giving 110 per cent in advance of Friday's first leg of the playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That percentage phrase, of course, is never used. Perish the thought.
Keane gets to do these press things at least once each match week because Martin O’Neill, it sometimes seems, might actually find himself another line of work if he were required to do it every day.
“Thanks for your time,” says someone as Ireland’s assistant manager arrives to take his seat.
“I think it’s in my contract,” he replies. His sternness seems intended to be a comedic device and he pulls it all off well, although it might help that deep down, you know he hates being here every bit as much as he’s actually letting on.
There is, he quickly reveals, no news to impart. The situation with regard to John O'Shea, Shane Long, Rob Elliot and the others is just as it was, with another 24 hours at least required, he says, before the picture becomes a little clearer.
“But,” he says, “part of me had ruled Shane out anyway.”
His wider message is that, like him, we might do well to assume that anyone not here now will not be in Zenica on Friday, and then start to focus on what might be possible with the players who will actually be involved.
In contention
Prompted by questions, he rattles through assessments of a fair few of those in contention to feature with
David Meyler
getting a prominent early mention. As with some of the others, Keane’s assessment is a mix of humour and warmly delivered praise.
“Listen,” he says, “I like Meyler; obviously, I signed him. He was one of my better signings – but that wouldn’t have been hard!
“He’s a good character, I’ll give him that; without analysing his technical ability, he’s a good player, he’ll do a good job for us, he’s a strong boy, he has a good attitude. Meyler won’t let us down if he gets involved on Friday night.”
When Wes Hoolahan’s age is mentioned in the context of his fitness problems last month, he asks how old he is then smiles a little wistfully when told he is 33.
"Is he that age?" he asks rhetorically with the hint of a smile. "He looks younger. But there's no point talking about Wes Hoolahan, Clarkey or Meyler getting through two games.
“Get through the first one. Some lads might get injured, some lads may be suspended. Let’s get through the first one. Then we’ll have an idea how physical the game was. You don’t know until it starts. It might be technical. It’s over two legs. Do two teams go for it?
“We won’t know until we get out there. But it will be tough, one way or the other.”
Dzeko challenge
Whatever sort of game it is, containing Edin Dzeko will be a key challenge with the former Manchester City striker sure to start in what will be a two man strike-force for the hosts on Friday night.
The 29-year-old averaged a goal a game in the group stages but is now returning to the side after missing some of Bosnia’s strong finish to the campaign through injury.
A week after playing a significant part in keeping the current City frontline at bay for Villa, Ciaran Clark looks certain to be carrying a share of the responsibility for looking after the Roma striker.
“It’s a big test,” says Keane, “but the only way to test these players’ [ability to go up against the best] is by playing against them. We could sit around and go, ‘Yeah, I think he could do it,’ but the only way to find out is in these big games. Whatever about training sessions, well and good, you find out how good your players are by playing against the best players. I experienced that myself.”
Leadership qualities
Clark seems quiet and there is a lingering suspicion that O’Shea’s leadership qualities might be missed on the night.
However, Keane is adamant that there is sufficient character within the group, something he feels has been proven by the way Ireland battled back from the brink of elimination at the start of the summer.
“Yeah,” he says, “I believe we have. I think we’ve had setbacks earlier in the group. We’ve had disappointments, we’ve been written off one or two times. But lads have come in and done a job for us.”
When, that is, they’ve been allowed to. Keane is adamant that he has no complaints about the current situation with injuries and suspensions but with a couple of clubs clearly preferring to see their players rest and recuperate during the next week or so, he still takes a jokey sideswipe at those who seek to keep their stars out of harm’s way.
“It’s ironic, with managers, when international week is coming up,” he says, “the players always seem to be ruled out for 10 to 14 days. It’s amazing.”
There is some mild laughter from his audience until someone asks: “You’ve been on the other side of it?”
And suddenly the humour seems to get sucked out of the situation.
“Yeah. I have been on the other side of it. What’s your point?”
For a moment, you suspect, Roy is thinking that he really should have read the small print before he signed up for this.
