Kerr stays positive as Keane loss hits home
Tuesday September 20th 2005
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BRIAN KERR insisted last night that there is now an opportunity for other players to step up to the plate for the final two World Cup qualifiers after the loss of talisman Roy Keane.
The Ireland boss spoke to Keane yesterday afternoon and the United midfielder revealed that he will have to wear a protective boot for some weeks after breaking a metatarsal on the middle toe of his left foot in Sunday's clash with Liverpool. He also sustained a cut on the foot which doctors have warned could get infected.
Keane was already ruled out of the trip to Nicosia to face Cyprus because of suspension but he will now miss the home game against Switzerland four days later. Indeed, the Corkman's bad break could also keep him out of the World Cup play-offs in November if Ireland make it that far bringing about the real possibility that Ireland's defeat to France last month may have been the Corkman's last appearance in a green jersey.
"He had been told that the healing period will be from six to eight weeks so that rules him out of the Swiss match in three weeks' time. The play-offs won't be for seven weeks so he might be back for them if the injury heals quickly," said Kerr.
"We knew he was going to miss the Cyprus game but he would have been fit and fresh for the Swiss game, something like the start of the campaign. We have prepared for the loss of players throughout this campaign. The focus is on winning the next two games."
Throughout this campaign Kerr has used either Matt Holland or Graham Kavanagh to replace Keane with Kavanagh filling in at home to Cyprus while Holland took his place against Israel in Dublin.
Neither made it to the bench for the game against France having struggled with injury from the start of the season but Kavanagh has now played three on the trot for Wigan while Holland made his seasonal bow for Charlton at home to Chelsea on Saturday.
With the role of both players in the international set-up now likely to become more important, Kerr, who watched Kavanagh in Wigan's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Sunday, was delighted to see them both back in action.
"They are starting to get a few games under their belt," he said. "We didn't pick them for the France game because they hadn't played up to that."
Another option is Everton's Lee Carsley who has phoned Kerr to tell him that his self-imposed 17-month exile from international football is over.
"I had a call from Lee and I told him that I would go over to meet him soon. I am glad that he had decided to come back because I thought he had a good season," said Kerr.
"He is a very good fellow and since I have been involved I have found him to be very committed, very honest and good to have around the squad. He always puts his heart and soul into everything."
However, Carsley's hopes of being in the squad for next month's qualifiers against Cyprus and Switzerland could be dashed by a knee injury that has prevented him from playing for Everton this season.
Kerr also has to find replacements for Clinton Morrison and Andy Reid who are suspended for the trip to Cyprus and that could see call-ups for Wigan's David Connolly, Reading's Kevin Doyle and Celtic's Aiden McGeady.
Meanwhile, the manager has been in discussion with the association's chief executive John Delaney over the venue for the home leg should Ireland reach the play-offs with the Millennium Stadium, Anfield, Old Trafford, Eastlands and Parkhead all being considered.
Lansdowne Road is unavailable on the date of the first leg because of a rugby international and the capacity would be reduced to 22,000 for the second leg because of the absence of bucket seats.
Gerry McDermott
