Euro 2008 Qualifying Group D:Robbie Keane emerged as a major doubt for Ireland's final European Championship qualifier tomorrow in Cardiff after aggravating a foot injury originally picked up in the squad's first training session on Tuesday afternoon.
Caretaker manager Don Givens gave the Tottenham striker the option of sitting out training the following day, but Keane opted to participate and subsequently suffered a reaction that resulted in having to look on as the rest of the squad went through their paces yesterday.
"He came out of training on Tuesday towards the end of the session because he felt he had a bit of a problem with his foot," said Givens. "He felt okay to train on Wednesday and took a full part in the session, but he got a bit of a reaction overnight so we felt it was best to sit him out today. We will get a better idea tomorrow of how he is."
Givens is still hopeful the Irish skipper will be fit to start tomorrow afternoon, but it looks far from certain.
Kevin Doyle is virtually assured of featuring in the starting line-up, and if Keane is unable to partner the 27-year-old in attack then the manager's most obvious options are Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes.
There was better news on other fronts for the Irish boss with Shay Given (groin) coming through yesterday's session at Ninian Park without difficulty, while Paul McShane (hip) and Stephen Hunt (foot) also went a long way towards establishing their fitness.
In all, 18 players took part in the run out and Givens sounded happy with the day's work.
"We got Shay, Paul and Stephen onto the pitch with the others, which was a bonus after the week we've had with injuries," he said.
"Getting Shay back is a great boost for us. He reported no problems after today's session and he's already trained with Newcastle this week. We'll keep an eye on him obviously, but I'd be very confident about him being okay for Saturday."
John Toshack, meanwhile, has problems of his own with the likes of Craig Bellamy and Gareth Bale ruled out.
There has been considerable speculation that the Wales manager will depart when the campaign is finished, but he was insistent yesterday that he still has a good deal more work to do.
"Managers always get criticism," he said. "I think I've been criticised in five or six different languages now. But when I was offered this job, I was firstly offered a three-year agreement and I said no, I wanted five years.
"I knew it was a big job. If I didn't have a five-year agreement at the start, I don't think I would have made some of the decisions I made in my first year, year and a half."
He concedes that the Welsh will have to play much better than they did when the sides last met if they are to get anything out of the game but, he believes, it may end up being a question of which side improves more.
"The performance in Dublin wasn't good," he says, "but the Irish can play better too. But it (the campaign) was not just about Croke Park. Out of 10 games to date, we can be happy with six of them."
