Keane set for duty after LA stroll
Euro 2016 Diary
ROBBIE Keane arrives this week in good spirits but with a few aches and pains after LA Galaxy kept their season alive with a thrashing of Real Salt Lake in Sunday's MLS playoffs.
Keane scored once and created three others in a 5-0 win for his side that puts them into the Western Conference final - which is effectively the semi-final in the race for the title.
The Ireland skipper is enjoying his best US campaign in terms of goals, but his magic moment in the Salt Lake rout was a delicious scoop over the top to tee up Landon Donovan for his hat-trick.
Keane confessed afterwards that he was feeling sore beforehand.
"I felt awful," he said. "Bad back, bad hamstring. I wasn't feeling great until the game started moving."
We have been here before with the Tallaght man, though, and he made it clear to US media afterwards that he was firmly focused on Irish duty and will worry about the rest of the Galaxy campaign when he gets back.
"As soon as I get on the plane, my focus is on international," he said.
Miller out of the loop
Ten years ago, Liam Miller was the subject of a controversial move from Celtic to Manchester United.
The 33-year-old exists in a different world now and left A-League side Brisbane Roar recently after a tiff with manager Mike Mulvey.
Miller was unhappy at being dropped for the second and third games of the new season without explanation and sought a contract termination.
"I had been disrespected and that was enough for me to leave, simple as that," he said this week.
Quote of the day
'Gordon McQueen's comments are an embarrassment! Clearly hasn't a clue what he's on about!'
- Darren O'Dea tweeted that he did not appreciate former Scotland international McQueen's criticism of James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady for representing Ireland, and his wish that they receive a 'horrible' reception from the Celtic Park crowd.
O'Dea, who has spent most of his working life in Scotland, is close friends with McGeady and is familiar with his back story.
"You're either Scottish or you're not Scottish and you should know that by the time you're 12 years of age," raged McQueen.
McCarthy and McGeady were both overlooked by the Scots in their youth and felt more appreciated by the Irish set-up and what their heritage meant to their respective families - a fact which McQueen failed to acknowledge.
Number of the day
6 Members of the Derby County squad in contention for Friday. Ireland have Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh and newcomer Cyrus Christie ,while the Scots have Johnny Russell, Chris Martin and Craig Forsyth at their disposal
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