I still have goals to give Ireland, insists Keane
AHEAD of a potentially defining junction on the road to Euro 2016, Robbie Keane last night jogged Martin O’Neill’s elbow by insisting: ‘There are more goals for Ireland in me.’
Keane is bursting to return to the Republic of Ireland front line for tonight’s massive qualifier with Poland in Dublin and add to his record 65-goal haul as they chase a vital win.
Asked if there were more Irish goals to come, the 34-year-old replied: ‘Of course there are. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that.’
Keane added that he would only stop playing ‘when I can hardly walk’.
The Republic’s fox in the box played down his omission in the 1-0 defeat against Scotland last November and stressed he was ‘here for the team’.
‘Of course, you want to play. Everyone does,’ he said, adding: ‘If called upon, I will be ready, whether that’s starting or whether that’s on the bench.
‘I’m here for the team and, as captain, I have to lead by example.’
Keane is set for his 139th appearance this evening — only nine Europeans have made more, three of them goalkeepers, Iker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon and Thomas Ravelli.
The Dubliner put his longevity down to self-motivation.
‘It’s OK having the ability, but if you don’t have the hunger and the desire, wanting to play and wanting to still be the best and wanting to still score goals, you’re not really going to do too much,’ he said.
‘I still have that and I have always had it since I made my (Irish) debut the first day, and nothing has changed since then.
‘I’ll stop playing and stop scoring goals when literally I can hardly walk. That’s how much I love playing, it’s fairly simple.’
Keane doesn’t share the view that his move to LA Galaxy necessarily extended his international career.
‘Has the Galaxy helped me (for Ireland)? I’m not too sure. I think I’ve helped myself because of the way I keep myself, and the hunger and the desire that I have.’
It is 17 years since Keane made his senior debut and his passions for his country, and for playing football, continue to run deep.
‘The years have gone quickly, too quickly,’ he said.
A survivor of the 2001 win over Holland in Dublin, Keane appreciates the need to stir the Irish fans into a frenzy tonight. ‘It’s up to us to get them going,’ he said.
‘We can’t worry too much about Poland. We have seen everything we have of them all week with the DVDs, so we know everything about them.
‘It’s up to the players now to go out and perform and get a good result.
‘This game has been a few months coming now and since the last match against Scotland, the players are certainly desperate to play again.
‘You could see that in training this week, with the intensity and sharpness.’
Keane has scored twice in three Major League Soccer games for LA Galaxy and is pleased with his form and fitness levels.
‘It’s been a good week’s training and, personally, I feel very good, very sharp,’ he said.
O’Neill won’t name his team until an hour before kick-off.
At training yesterday, he dabbled with three defenders and a five-man midfield, including Wes Hoolahan, which may indicate a back-up strategy.
David Forde is set to continue in goal with Keane returning to the attack, and Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy back in harness in midfield for the first time in a year.
Also poised to start is Jon Walters, who led the Republic of Ireland when they last met Poland, in Poznan in November 2013.
The gritty Stoke City player is more Iron Man in a mask than the Man in the Iron Mask and Keane is pleased he is available for selection.
‘Jon’s been brilliant since he came in on day one,’ he said. ‘He’s always a threat for the opposition, defenders don’t like playing against him.
‘He certainly leads by example on the field.
‘You can see that in his desire. He gives everything he’s got. He’s a huge player for this squad.’