Roy Keane Out of Irish Squad

No Return
By Chris O'Brien
April 26 2004

Manchester United skipper Roy Keane has pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly international against Poland on Wednesday. The game looked set to mark Keane's international return but, perhaps inevitably, he has pulled out through injury.

Roy Keane has pulled out of the Ireland squad for their international warm-up game against Poland. The Irish take on the hard-working Polish side on Wednesday, but will be without the Manchester United skipper and numerous other high-profile players.

 

The friendly was meant to be Keane’s return to the international fold after almost 2 years away from the Irish squad following a well publicised fall-out with former manager Mick McCarthy.

 

However, Keane will now not be included and the ‘injury’ he has picked up could be an indication that Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t want his skipper involved in friendlies, despite previously backing his international return.

 

The media was full of speculation that the pair had fallen out over Keane’s decision to return for the Republic of Ireland, and pulling out of this friendly has to be deemed as extremely suspicious, even though it was expected!