Martin O’Neill keen not to keep discussing Roy

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill is hoping for a break from the speculation about his assistant manager Roy Keane's future for the duration of the national side's two-match tour to America.

Keane withdrew his name from consideration for the vacant position at Celtic but has since been touted as a potential assistant manager to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa, a role that reputedly would not preclude him from working with the national side.

O’Neill is wary and weary with regard to the speculation about Keane and potential coaching suitors but expressed his delight that the Corkman prefers to remain with Ireland.

He explained: “I’m naturally very pleased, delighted that he has done so. We might just get on with things now. It’s obviously good news for us, for everyone concerned I think; the players in particular are delighted and so are the rest of us.

“Well as I said to you before, he has enjoyed it here immensely. That obviously plays a part in his thinking. I’m quite sure there were quite a number of factors but that was pretty important too at this minute. He is enjoying it. He’s just got started and hopefully that might continue.

“Celtic is a great club, it’s a fantastic club. I’ve said this, it’s almost reiteration ad nauseum, in the future he will have loads of offers as he’s had in the past and the immediate past. Things like this will crop up here again with a bit of luck. I’m not saying Celtic will but that type of job.

When asked about the Aston Villa interest, O’Neill admitted: “I don’t know what you really expect of me here. I answered the questions about Celtic. I think you think I’m a soothsayer, that I can just predict the future. I wish I could predict the future; I might be in better shape than I am.

"Everything now at this minute is on the backburner in terms of speculation, all that sort of stuff. I don't really want to continue on about this until we get back from the United States. " It was suggested to him that it was becoming a bit tiresome. "Yes, you're dead right," and added: "Well if you think there's something in it then by all means ask me. If you don't think there is anything in it then please you refrain from asking me the question."

The comedic element kicked in with the next inquiry. Anything in Villa link? O’Neill elaborated: “Again, I’m just going to put things on the backburner if you don’t mind. I’ve dealt with it, okay? Honestly it isn’t really a problem.

“I said there a few days ago when you asked me about this sort of thing. It will happen again, there is no doubt about that and I’ll deal with it accordingly at that time or Roy will deal with it. But actually it’s not tiresome as I suggested.”

Matters veered to the more mundane and a discussion about injuries. O'Neill ventured: "We're losing a few players at this moment. Ciaran Clark had a bit of a problem. I thought he was okay for Saturday night but he had felt it during the course of the week.

"He hadn't said too much about it. He went for a scan in Birmingham, the scan came up okay but he's still feeling a little bit discomfort so in all honesty there is no point in him travelling. Jon Walters came back from that little family break. He had a virus he picked up. He's feeling much better.

"He was on a drip yesterday in hospital but he's feeling much better. After that we'll have a look. I just spoke to him this morning. He's desperate to come out. I think it might be too early for the Costa Rica game but Portugal might be part of it.

"(It's the) same with Stephen Ward. He's in Italy at this moment. I've just given him a couple of extra days. I think he'll miss the Costa Rica game but hopefully, injuries taken into consideration, he could join us for the Portugal game."