KEVIN KILBANE KNOWS his former team-mate Robbie Keane will be hurting after he was hauled off at half-time during Ireland’s narrow win over Georgia but insists this is not the beginning of the end for the striker.
Keane was replaced by Shane Long at the interval by Martin O’Neill and the Ireland manager admitted after the game that he replaced his captain because ‘he lacked energy.’
On a night when the 35-year-old was attempting to surpass German legend Gerd Muller in the all-time international goalscoring charts, Keane struggled to make an impact and looked off the pace.
It says a great deal about Keane’s performance that when Ireland were desperately searching for a breakthrough, O’Neill felt the need to withdraw his main marksman in an attempt to turn the tide in the hosts’ favour.
It was a big call and ultimately it paid dividends as Ireland went onto break down their stubborn opponents and earn three invaluable qualifying points.
But it was a decision which has raised yet more serious questions over Keane’s future in a green jersey.
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Throughout O’Neill’s tenure, Keane has been used sparingly and if Monday’s evidence is anything to go by, it’s hard to argue he deserves to start against Germany next month.
And Kilbane admits Keane will find it difficult to take.
“He won’t like that,” the former Ireland international said. “Maybe it was a game to bring Robbie on but Martin decided to go with the same as Gibraltar and he probably acknowledged at half-time that it wasn’t the right call with the change he made.
“When you get subbed during the first-half, that’s the worst but half-time is probably as bad. It does hurt.”
“I hope it’s not the end for Robbie but it’s hard to second guess Martin because of the among of changes he’s made throughout the campaign so far.”
Speaking at the launch of the Westport Sea2Summit in Dublin yesterday, Kilbane explained that there comes a point in a player’s career when they know time is running out.
“I remember when I got injured for the Russian game under Trapattoni and I was leaving the squad thinking that might have been my last time in the squad and you genuinely never know when it’s going to come about.
“You have that feeling within you. I doubt Robbie has it at this stage – two goals on Friday would suggest he’s not quite finished yet but maybe he’s now best off the bench.
“When he came on against Scotland in June, he was the quality player on the pitch and Robbie still has that class and he also has that edge to his game that we need.”
Friday’s brace in Faro against Group D minnows Gibraltar brought Keane’s international tally to 67 and he now sits just one strike behind Muller.
The numbers speak for themselves and Kilbane insists teams would be more fearful of an Irish side with Robbie Keane in it than one without him.
“When you see his name and the amount of goals he’s scored, it stands for a lot within the mindset of other players.
“But it will be difficult to accept for Robbie if he was to find himself on the bench. We’ve seen it at club level – maybe someone like Gerrard – and I think when you’re being left out and coming off at half-time like last night, you don’t want to accept the end is coming.
“It would hurt Robbie if he was coming constantly and he was on the bench and not getting on in matches. The manager will say he’s contributing off the pitch but you want to be playing and that’s where it does count.”
'Robbie won't like what happened because you don't want to accept the end is coming'
KEVIN KILBANE KNOWS his former team-mate Robbie Keane will be hurting after he was hauled off at half-time during Ireland’s narrow win over Georgia but insists this is not the beginning of the end for the striker.
Keane was replaced by Shane Long at the interval by Martin O’Neill and the Ireland manager admitted after the game that he replaced his captain because ‘he lacked energy.’
On a night when the 35-year-old was attempting to surpass German legend Gerd Muller in the all-time international goalscoring charts, Keane struggled to make an impact and looked off the pace.
It says a great deal about Keane’s performance that when Ireland were desperately searching for a breakthrough, O’Neill felt the need to withdraw his main marksman in an attempt to turn the tide in the hosts’ favour.
It was a big call and ultimately it paid dividends as Ireland went onto break down their stubborn opponents and earn three invaluable qualifying points.
But it was a decision which has raised yet more serious questions over Keane’s future in a green jersey.
Throughout O’Neill’s tenure, Keane has been used sparingly and if Monday’s evidence is anything to go by, it’s hard to argue he deserves to start against Germany next month.
And Kilbane admits Keane will find it difficult to take.
“He won’t like that,” the former Ireland international said. “Maybe it was a game to bring Robbie on but Martin decided to go with the same as Gibraltar and he probably acknowledged at half-time that it wasn’t the right call with the change he made.
“When you get subbed during the first-half, that’s the worst but half-time is probably as bad. It does hurt.”
“I hope it’s not the end for Robbie but it’s hard to second guess Martin because of the among of changes he’s made throughout the campaign so far.”
Speaking at the launch of the Westport Sea2Summit in Dublin yesterday, Kilbane explained that there comes a point in a player’s career when they know time is running out.
“I remember when I got injured for the Russian game under Trapattoni and I was leaving the squad thinking that might have been my last time in the squad and you genuinely never know when it’s going to come about.
“You have that feeling within you. I doubt Robbie has it at this stage – two goals on Friday would suggest he’s not quite finished yet but maybe he’s now best off the bench.
Friday’s brace in Faro against Group D minnows Gibraltar brought Keane’s international tally to 67 and he now sits just one strike behind Muller.
The numbers speak for themselves and Kilbane insists teams would be more fearful of an Irish side with Robbie Keane in it than one without him.
“When you see his name and the amount of goals he’s scored, it stands for a lot within the mindset of other players.
“But it will be difficult to accept for Robbie if he was to find himself on the bench. We’ve seen it at club level – maybe someone like Gerrard – and I think when you’re being left out and coming off at half-time like last night, you don’t want to accept the end is coming.
“It would hurt Robbie if he was coming constantly and he was on the bench and not getting on in matches. The manager will say he’s contributing off the pitch but you want to be playing and that’s where it does count.”
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