Martin O’Neill has named his squad for Euro 2016, but doubts over fitness remain for some key individuals.
Robbie Keane isn’t expected to start any of the Republic of Ireland’s games, but he remains the captain and most experienced member of the squad, and could yet make a difference from the bench in France.
Ireland’s record goalscorer missed Tuesday’s loss to Belarus with a calf injury, and may also miss the opening game of the tournament on June 13th against Sweden. However, when asked if Keane will be fit for Ireland’s second Group E game, against Belgium in Bordeaux on June 18th, O’Neill said: “He thinks that it could be, if it’s not Sweden he thinks he’ll be fit for the second game.”
James McCarthy has been struggling with a hamstring injury for the past few weeks, and trained alone at Turner’s Cross on Monday, but O’Neill feels there’s enough time to get the Everton midfielder fully fit for Ireland’s opening game in Paris.
“James has played a lot of matches for Everton,” O’Neill said. “He’s a pretty fit lad at the best of time, but like anything else you’d like some time on the field.”
“But we can organise games in France, we’ve a little bit of time, and even before that because we’ve got a week’s training to do here (in Cork).”
