SOCCER/Euro 2004 qualifier: Brian Kerr's attacking options for tomorrow's European Championship qualifier were greatly strengthened yesterday when Robbie Keane arrived in Tirana four hours ahead of the squad's touch down from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, writes Emmet Malone in Tirana.
The 22-year-old striker travelled from Dublin via Budapest and was met at the airport by Eddie Corcoran, the part-time FAI official on whose recommendation the player was originally signed by Wolves, his first professional club in Britain.
Keane is expected to get some light training done today with the rest of the Irish players, although Kerr suggested yesterday that there would be little serious work done before tomorrow evening's game due to the fairly poor state of the training facilities around a city that has nevertheless been transformed almost beyond recognition since Ireland last played here just two months short of a decade ago.
"That's the reason that we took the extra day or so in Tbilisi," said the Ireland boss shortly before he and his players embarked on the three-and-a- half-hour flight. "We were advised that there are really no training facilities in Albania at all. There's the pitch for the match and the one for the under-21 game and that's it, so we'll be limited in what we can do over the next couple of days."
Kerr was obviously delighted by the prospect of having Keane at his disposal for what looks likely, after Albania's defeat of Russia on Saturday, to be a tougher game for the visitors than their own defeat of Georgia. But the sharpness of the striker, who has played only once competitively in more than a month and has not trained properly in a week, still has to be gauged.
"I did suggest to him that he might do a bit and he said that he had been out running every day," said the manager, adding, "I think he'll be okay."
Assuming Kerr believes that he is even close to fully fit the Tottenham player looks certain to slot into the attack, with the options then appearing to be that Gary Doherty might be dropped so that Damien Duff might once again partner Keane, or Lee Carsley could lose out with Duff the most likely man to replace him on the right. Or Duff could replace Kilbane on the left with the Sunderland winger either being accommodated in central midfield or taking the bench.
The decision Kerr makes will have a significant impact on the team's chances of defeating a side that has already drawn at home with Switzerland and, of course, beaten the Russians well.
The home team's performance on Saturday was impressive, with the Albanians looking well worth their two-goal winning margin.
"I think people who said when the draw was made that it was a two- or a three-horse race were probably displaying a certain amount of ignorance of the progress that countries like Georgia and Albania have been making in recent years," said Kerr.
"We've seen how competitive these teams have been at under-age level over the past few years, and so it's no great surprise that they are causing more established teams problems now. But there are always changes in the balance of power in international football, you only have to look at the situation with Wales. I can't remember the last time the Welsh were in serious contention to get to a major championships but it was probably in the early 60s. Look at their group table now and it looks like themselves and Italy that are the major powers in the group."
In terms of Group 10, he said, the nett effect may be that the number of points required to earn qualification or a place in the play-offs may not be as high as originally anticipated.
"I said before coming on this trip that we needed six points to get back in touch with the top teams and that four would leave us needing results in other games, but the fact is that those results have already started and the group is a lot tighter than would have been predicted - the Albanians will be looking at Wednesday night, especially after what may have been the biggest victory in their history, and thinking that if they can beat us they'll be well in contention themselves."
Former Scottish international Joe Jordan, a friend of Packie Bonner, watched Saturday's win and had already spoken to Kerr about the team's approach under manager Hans-Peter Briegel.
"They stuck with the same side for their earlier games," said Kerr, "but there were four changes at the weekend, the new manager made changes in personnel and changed the shape of the team.
"We have a fairly good idea of what they do, though. We always knew they'd be tight at the back - they only conceded 13 goals in their last campaign despite being in a group with England, Germany and Greece. And they tend to play with a big target man (Brescia's Igli Tare), we'll be aware of him."
Ireland's own target man on this trip, Doherty, meanwhile, shrugged off a minor injury and came through yesterday's training session without any problems.
Kilbane was rested but Kerr insisted the 26-year-old will be fit and available for selection tomorrow evening.
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Don Givens brings Graham Barrett back into his Under-21 side today against Albania in Tirana. Barrett was released from the senior squad yesterday when Robbie Keane arrived.
Kevin O'Connor is rewarded for a bright performance after coming on late against the Georgians with a place in the starting line-up. Andy Reid and Paul Tierney have returned home due to suspension and injury.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDER-21:
Stack (Arsenal), Brennan (Newcastle Utd), Paisley (Manchester City), Byrne (Scunthorpe United), Goodwin (Stockport Co), Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Miller (Celtic), O'Connor (Brentford), Thorntan (Sunderland), Daly (Stockport Co), Barrett (Arsenal).
