Soccer: Just short of two years after his international career came off the rails in spectacular fashion on the tiny Pacific island of Saipan, Roy Keane confirmed yesterday that he has once again made himself available to play for the Republic of Ireland. Emmet Malone Soccer Correspondent reports

The possibility of a return by the Corkman has been the subject of almost relentless speculation since he parted company with the rest of the Irish squad on May 23rd, 2002, amid acrimony and recriminations between the midfielder, Mick McCarthy and some other prominent players.

With most of the main figures in the controversy having moved on, his exile was finally ended yesterday when a one-line statement issued by his London based solicitor and adviser, Michael Kennedy, rather coolly announced that the 32-year-old had, "agreed to make himself available for selection for international games in the future."

The FAI were more forthcoming on the player's return with Brian Kerr providing a basic account of events that had led to the player's return and confirming that the midfielder is available to him "with immediate effect," rather than in the autumn when Ireland's World Cup campaign will commence with a home game on September 4th against Cyprus.

In the circumstances it seems likely that the Manchester United man will be named in the Ireland squad for the game against Poland in Bydgoszce in two weeks when Kerr names his squad next Tuesday even if his inclusion proves to be little more than a symbolic gesture and he does not actually end up playing there.

Having briefed some prominent members of the squad on developments in his talks with Keane when they were in Dublin last month for the game against the Czech Republic the trip to Poland would appear to provide an opportunity for Kerr to start the reintegration process proper while the player's absence could prove slightly embarrassing.

In the longer term Keane would now be expected to re-establish himself as a key member of the Ireland team, providing a strong presence, drive and leadership in the centre of midfield where he has been sorely missed since he departed on the eve of the last World Cup.

His return will be seen as greatly enhancing Ireland's chances of taking something from the key away games of the next campaign against Switzerland and Israel as well as competing effectively either home or away with a French team boasting, amongst many others, his long standing Arsenal adversary, Patrick Vieira.

Yesterday's announcement was the result of months of behind the scenes contact between Kerr and Keane which appear at times to have involved a number of informal intermediaries. The talks culminated in a face-to-face meeting last Friday in Manchester where the former Cobh Ramblers and Nottingham Forest player assured Kerr that he was ready and willing to come back.

Kerr had previously made it clear that Keane had to resolve his differences with Alex Ferguson over his planned return before anything could be finalised and the player had done this by last week, thereby removing the most obvious obstacle to the resumption of his international career.

Unofficially, United were claiming yesterday afternoon that Ferguson backed Keane's decision and the Scot subsequently insisted on Sky Sports television that he was "pleased" for his captain.

"He's made a good decision for all parties concerned," he said. "I think it is a good decision for them. There has been some dialogue between Brian and Roy in the last couple of weeks, and they have come to the feeling this was a good time to go back in order to qualify for the next World Cup. In this case I would say it is a very good decision for Roy - and I support it 100 per cent."

The reality, however, is that the announcement appears to mark an act of open defiance of Ferguson by a player who has previously, most notably 14 months ago when he reneged on an earlier agreement with Kerr to return, accepted the manager's wishes.

In recent weeks the Scot again attempted to persuade Keane that a return to international football was deeply inadvisable and that such a move, after the well documented difficulties the player has endured with injuries in recent years, could be detrimental to his club career.

On this occasion, however, Keane made it clear that he would not be changing his mind and it is understood that Ferguson eventually relented, accepting that there was, in reality, little he could do to stand in the player's way.

With Ferguson already having rested the player on a number of occasions this season and Keane having missed last night's game against Leicester City because of a thigh strain there will be considerable disappointment around Old Trafford in relation to the decision but for Kerr it is a significant coup, albeit one with the potential to make life for the Ireland manager a little more complicated during the weeks and months ahead.

The tone of the Ireland manager's comments yesterday was relatively subdued but he nevertheless expressed understandable satisfaction with the announcement. "I am glad that one of the greatest players ever to play for Ireland has chosen this path," he said by way of the FAI's statement. "It cannot have been an easy decision for him but his desire to represent his country is immense."

The Dubliner added that United have been made aware that Keane has made himself available for selection with immediate effect and concluded: "I look forward to working with Roy Keane. He brings quality and experience to a potentially excellent squad of players whose sole focus is the World Cup qualifying matches next autumn."

Quite what part Keane might play in the Irish team before then is far from clear but it would be surprising if he did not win his 59th international cap well before the Cyprus game. It was reported that when Kerr and Keane last agreed a basis for his return that the manager had stipulated that the player would have to travel for friendlies but not play in them.

Keane subsequently volunteered to travel to Scotland for Kerr's first game in charge in order to meet up with members of the squad even though there was no question of him being involved with the game. A similar gesture seems likely this time.