McCarthy plays down Keane fitness fears
Alex Richardson
Republic of Ireland coach Mick McCarthy played down fears over the fitness of his captain Roy Keane on Wednesday.
McCarthy said he expected the Manchester United midfielder to play in his side's final World Cup warm-up match against Nigeria at Lansdowne Road on Thursday.
Doubts about Keane's fitness were raised after he failed to appear in the Ireland side which beat English premier league team Sunderland 3-0 in striker Niall Quinn's testimonial match on Tuesday.
But McCarthy said his team's most influential player had been undergoing "preventative" treatment.
"I didn't say anything because I knew what would happen with the hype surrounding Roy," McCarthy said.
"People would have been chasing around to see if he had done something to his cruciate (ligament) or whether he had broken his back, his neck or his skull, but the reality is I expect him to be fit for Thursday."
With less than three weeks to go before the World Cup finals kick off in Japan and South Korea Thursday's game is being seen as a vital preparation exercise for both sides.
Ireland's Group E campaign begins on June 1 again Cameroon, whose style of play is seen to be similar to West African neighbours Nigeria.
Nigeria face England in Group F, and with Ireland's entire squad playing their club football in the English league McCarthy's side make ideal practice opposition for the Africans.
McCarthy named his World Cup squad last week, and is likely to use the friendly to try out his favoured team before the Irish leave for Saipan on Friday to begin acclimatisation.
NIGERIAN UNREST
Nigerian coach Adegboye Onigbinde has said he will name his squad "at the last moment" before the May 21 deadline, and their preparations have been disrupted by dissent within the camp.
The "Super Eagles", as the Nigerian team are known, were labelled the "Super Egos" following lapses in discipline and bickering over money at the African Nations Cup in Mali earlier this year.
The position of former captain Sunday Oliseh remains unclear.
Nigerian Football Association secretary-general Taiwo Ogunjobi told Reuters the midfielder had been ruled out of the team, but Onigbinde said he would invite the player to join the squad.
Oliseh, who plays for German champions Borussia Dortmund, led a players protest over non-payment of air fare refunds during the Nations Cup and has not played since, with midfielder Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha replacing him as captain.
Possible teams:
Ireland: Shay Given; Steve Finnan, Ian Harte, Kenny Cunningham, Steve Staunton; Jason McAteer, Roy Keane, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Kilbane; Damien Duff, Robbie Keane.
Nigeria: Austin Ejide; Joseph Yobo, Isaac Okoronkwo, Efe Sodje, Justice Christopher; Eric Ejiofor, Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka; Bartholomew Ogbeche, Julius Aghahowa.
