ONE OF THE last times Roy Keane sat in front a room full of journalists in a Dublin hotel he told them he’d camp outside Stephen Ireland’s house if it persuaded the Cobhman to return to the Boys in Green fold.

Today, when asked by Ken Early if those tactics still applied now he was part of the international set-up, Keane answered: “I don’t know about that.”

“No, it’s great to see him back playing,” he continued, “We got the job last week and there’s loads of areas that I’m sure Martin will look at players that have been on the scene. I know a few lads that have been off the scene — people like Stokesy — so you know if Ireland is any bit interested in coming and playing for Ireland again and Martin gets involved and he wants me to get involved then we’ve got to get these players back involved, absolutely.

“Especially since he’s back playing. It’s important he concentrates on his club career too but if that’s an area Martin wants me to look at, you know, I wouldn’t say I know him too well the player, but I’d like to think he’d be open to having some kind of conversation. And we’ll do our best to get him back involved if that’s what he wants,” he added.

One criticism regularly levelled at Giovanni Trapattoni was the perceived lack of communication with his players between camps. Will O’Neill use Keane to check in with players away from Dublin?

“I hope so yeah,” Keane said in Malahide today. “Even in my neck of the woods there’s Gibson injured. There’ll be issues there and I can touch base with Martin. Absolutely. If I come across them on my travels… but I’ve been a player myself and if you’re ringing them asking what’s the craic, do you know what I mean? They’ll soon be ignoring your calls.

“That’s a balancing act but if there’s a young player or any player out there who’s struggling or not in their team and they’re playing in a development team or reserve match and I go and watch them and if I can have a quick word with them afterwards… absolutely, which I’ve always been comfortable with anyway, so that’s not a big challenge. There will be players who fall out of favour with their clubs over the next few months, no doubt.

“There’ll be lads get bad injuries and if you can meet at the training ground for a cup of tea or something like that and reassure them that they’re part of our the plans, don’t worry, I think most players would enjoy that. But without going over the top either, you don’t want to annoy players or pester them. They’ve got busy careers and busy  lives. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t annoy them.”