Keane boost for Ireland

Robbie Keane handed under-pressure Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni a boost when he boarded the plane for the Faroe Islands on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy striker, Ireland's leading scorer with 54 goals, missed Friday night's 6-1 drubbing by Germany, after which the nation's patience with the 73-year-old Italian appeared to have worn dangerously thin.

However, having tested his Achilles injury in training in Malahide on Sunday morning, Keane was among the party which jetted out to Torshavn ahead of Tuesday night's World Cup qualifier, a game Trapattoni has already admitted is a must-win affair.

A spokesman for the Football Association of Ireland said: "Following training this morning in Gannon Park, Robbie Keane has been ruled fit to travel with the squad for Tuesday's match against the Faroe Islands."

However, the news was not all good for the manager when it emerged that Andy Keogh, who scored the Republic's consolation goal against the Germans after coming on as a substitute, would be unable to join his captain after suffering concussion in a training-ground collision on Saturday.

The FAI spokesman added: "Andy Keogh suffered a knock to the head in training on Saturday. He was observed overnight by the FAI medical team and has been ruled unfit to travel to the Faroe Islands this afternoon due to mild concussion."