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Robbie Keane and Martin O'Neill and tonight's pre-game press conference. INPHO/Donall Farmer
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Robbie Keane to sit out Poland game due to Achilles injury

The Ireland skipper is facing surgery, he admits.

IRELAND WILL LINE out without record goal-scorer Robbie Keane in Poznan tomorrow night.

Martin O’Neill is preparing his side for the second game of his reign against Poland in an international friendly.

But the Boys in Green chief revealed tonight at the pre-game press conference that Keane will not feature tomorrow night.

“Robbie won’t start tomorrow night,” he said. “He’s had a bit of an Achilles problem that has been kind of chronic for a little while, something that hopefully now over this period of time he gets a little break with LA and he’s going to get it sorted out.

“My doctor said to me that if you weren’t going to start him in the game tomorrow night that perhaps maybe he might stay and he might be able to get an appointment a week earlier. A week, for the length of time that he’s off, might have been important. I gave that some consideration but deep down I wanted Robbie to come.

“The minute he said I’m coming, I think that spoke volumes for him, really did. I’m really pleased to hear that even if he had an opportunity of getting something sorted out let’s say Wednesday of this week, he’s prepared to leave the other week to go.

“As captain of the side that’s terrific for him and from my viewpoint that’s great to hear.”

Keane made the trip from Los Angeles, with the Galaxy’s season ending in the MLS play-offs.

“I’ve got time off after this,” Keane said, “it’s not like I have a game on Saturday or something like that. I’m done after this and next week I’ll see the specialist and hopefully for once and for all get this sorted out.”

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