Robbie Keane, such an important asset to the Republic of Ireland as the team takes on a vital test against Malta tonight, received a timely boost yesterday when he was presented with the Carling Player of the Month award for his Premiership exploits in August.

Irish manager Mick McCarthy handed over the award here in Valletta - Kevin Keegan, the England head coach, had been one of the panellists who chose Keane after his three goals in his first two games in the Premiership with Coventry. "It's a wonderful tribute to Robbie's skills, and hopefully it will set the mood for an even bigger celebration among the Irish supporters here in Malta after the game," said McCarthy.

Keane joins his Republic of Ireland team-mate Roy Keane, who was honoured in October, as a recipient of the award. The last teenager to be chosen was Nicolas Anelka in February of this year when he was with Arsenal.

The quality of the company is testimony to the precocious talent of the 19-year-old Dubliner, who had twice hit the target in August for his previous club, Wolves, before ending months of speculation by pledging his future to Coventry.

"It's something that never even crossed my mind but now that I've won it, I'm thrilled," he said. "It has all happened so quick for me; it's hard to take it in. But I'm still keeping my feet on the ground. There is still an awful lot of football to be played this season."

There was a volume of opinion that Keane had taken the wrong option when, after being linked at different times to Aston Villa, Tottenham and Middlesbrough, he eventually made the relatively short journey from Wolverhampton to Coventry.

Villa, a club with ambitions of winning the Premiership title, appeared to offer the better opportunities, but after Wolves had refused initially, to compromise on their asking price of £6 million, the trail went cold and it was some weeks later before Coventry made the decisive move.

Keane rejects suggestions that the deal smacked of a consolation prize. "There was no pressure on me to join them (Coventry) and I wouldn't have done so if I didn't think it was the right move for me. I took advice from a few people, including Mick McCarthy, but in the end the decision was mine.

"I was impressed by Coventry's ambition and the fact that they are planning to build a new stadium. But one of the biggest incentives of all was the thought of playing for (team manager) Gordon Strachan.

"I think he has a great passion for the game as he proved as a player. People in football respect him and I know he can help make me a better player."

The start of his new career at Highfield Road, he confesses, has been even more exciting than he dared hope. Two strikes against Derby, another in the meeting with Sunderland and an assist in Coventry's goal against Manchester United was the stuff of dreams.

"I met Jack Charlton for the first time in the Irish team's hotel when I came over for the Yugoslav game. That, for me, was a huge thrill but I couldn't understand when he said: `You're going too quick, son, you're going too quick.'

"Then I met up with him again after scoring against the Yugoslavs and he told me: `You're still going too quick.' I think I know what he meant, but that's what I'm paid to do, score goals."

In the space of a couple of seasons, Keane has grown to something of a cult figure in the English midlands. And at home in Ireland his fan club is already huge. That adds up to additional pressures, but if the burden weighs heavily on him it is not immediately apparent.

"There is pressure on every striker to score and in that, I am no different to anybody else. But I try not to let it affect me. I just concentrate on doing what I do best and take the bad days as well as the good ones."

He's still only getting to know his new colleagues at Coventry, but he knew his new team-mates at the Republic of Ireland, by reputation if not personally, from day one. And he says they couldn't have been more helpful.

"Like every other kid in Dublin, I knew the names of the players in the Irish team and to be in the same side as people like Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton was just brilliant.

"Niall in particular has been great for me, talking me through games and looking after me on the pitch. He also gave me some great advice when he told me to put a smile on my face and enjoy my football at all times. I haven't forgotten that."

The teenager's exuberance and his preference for the theatrical cartwheel after scoring has not been without cost in terms of wear and tear. Now, after recovering from a shoulder injury, he says there will be no cartwheeling if he scores here in Malta. But he will certainly be looking to get his name on the scoresheet.

"It's not going to be easy scoring against a packed defence. But if we keep our shape and our nerve, I still think we'll win."