Roy Keane, who last week announced his return to international football, has been forced to withdraw from Ireland’s squad to face Poland on Wednesday, due to a hamstring injury.
Keane had been expected to play against Poland in his first appearance for Ireland since walking out of a training camp on the eve of the 2002 World Cup.
A Football Association of Ireland spokesman said: “Following examination by FAI medical staff after training this morning…it was felt there would be further damage to the hamstring injury that kept Roy out of the Manchester United team in recent weeks if he were to make the trip to Poland.”
Keane, 32, retired from international football after his bust-up with former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. However, he was persuaded to return after discussing the situation with current Ireland manager Brian Kerr.
