Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane will be sidelined for up to three weeks and will miss the upcoming Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia, his club manager Glenn Hoddle said today.
The Tottenham player damaged ankle ligaments in Ireland's 2-1 friendly win over Australia at Lansdowne Road on Tuesday night.
While the injury is not believed to be as bad as first feared, Hoddle confirmed the player will be sidelined for at least two weeks if not more.
"At the moment we can say that he'll definitely be out for two weeks," the manager said. "He's had scans and what we'll do is have more observations further down the line when the swelling has gone down.
"I would say he's out of our next three games and the following internationals. It's an ankle ligament strain but at this moment we need to let it settle. We're hoping it's not going to be long term but at this stage it's at least two weeks."
Keane is therefore set to miss Tottenham's home clash with Leeds on Saturday, next Wednesday's game against Liverpool at Anfield and Saturday week's tie with Fulham at White Hart Lane.
The news will come as a desperate blow to Ireland boss Brian Kerr who viewed Keane as a central figure in his plans for the Russia game at Lansdowne Road on September 6th. The Republic need a win from the game and Keane, on the mark recently against Albania and Georgia, is seen as Ireland's principal goal scorer.
Kerr will now view it imperative that Clinton Morrison, scorer of the winning goal against Australia, works his way back into the Birmingham side this weekend in a bid to improve his match fitness following his long layoff with shoulder problems.
Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland under-20 manager Gerry Smith has named four eircom League players in his 18-man squad to play the Czech Republic in Dublin on September 3rd.
St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Keith Fahey, Longford Town duo Stephen Paisley and Sean Dillon and Bray Wanderers striker Eamonn Zayed all take their place in the squad for the Dalymount Park friendly.
Fahey, Paisley and Dillon will postpone thoughts of the game for the time being, though, as their teams prepare to meet in Monday's League Cup final at Richmond Park. The eircom League confirmed today that the Cup winners will receive €10,000 in prize money while the runners up will collect €4,000.
Sunderland's Sean Thornton is required by under-21 boss Don Givens for the Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia in Waterford on September 5th and has been left out of Smith's squad. Jonathon Daly (Stockport), Stephen Kelly (Tottenham) and Stephen Capper (Scarborough) miss out for the same reason.
"Don asked me if he could have these players for his squad and as he is facing a European qualifier I had no difficulty with that," Smith said.
Rep of Ireland U20:Brian Murphy (Swansea City), Wayne Henderson (Aston Villa), Stephen Brennan (Newcastle United), Ian Simpemba (Wycombe Wanderers), Stephen Paisley (Longford Town), Sean Dillon (Longford Town), Glenn Whelan(Manchester City), John Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), Conor Gethins (Ross County), Willo Flood (Manchester City), Graham Ward (Kidderminster Harriers), Darren Potter (Liverpool), Michael Foley (Liverpool), Keith Fahey (St. Patrick's Athletic), Adrian Deane (Charlton Athletic),Jonathon Walters (Bolton Wanderers), Stephen Elliott (Manchester City), Eamonn Zayed (Bray Wanderers).