With Martin O'Neill forced to select the 23 man squad for Euro 2016 by 11pm tomorrow - ninety minutes after the friendly with Belarus - the injured players among the Irish ranks are running out of time to prove their fitness before the Euros. This extends Robbie Keane. As per Neil O'Riordan of The Sun, the captain will miss the Belarus game with a calf injury. Having been denied his Dublin farewell on Friday, Keane will now not have a chance to prove himself worthy of inclusion ahead of the Euros.
Martin O'Neill: Robbie Keane won't play tomorrow night. ( Due to calf strain) #COYBIG
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) May 30, 2016
Robbie Keane a serious concern for the Euros with a calf problem. He won't play against Belarus. Squad must be submitted before 11pm tmrw.
— Neil O'Riordan (@noriordan) May 30, 2016
O'Neill has played down concerns over Keane:
Robbie Keane had calf problem but O'Neill is content that the LA Galaxy man is a "quick healer".
— Ryan Kelly (@ryandelarge) May 30, 2016
Also a concern is midfielder Harry Arter, Man of the Match against the Dutch on Friday. Arter did not train today owing to a thigh injury:
Robbie Keane and Harry Arter now serious #EURO2016 concerns with calf and thigh injuries respectively
— Paul O'Hehir (@paulohehir) May 30, 2016
Kevin Doyle's involvement at the minute looks increasingly unlikely, he has been placed on standby having not travelled to Cork.
While Keane is obviously not going to be a central part of the starting team, it will be increasingly difficult to justify his selection in the squad if he is not fit to take part. Opportunity may knock for Doyle.
The ninety minutes in the aftermath of the Belarus game may be more difficult for O'Neill than the game itself.
See Also: Was Robbie Keane Really 'Snubbed' On Friday Night And Should We Care?
See Also: The Balls.ie Euro 2016 Spotify Playlist Will Inflate Your Plastic Hammer
