Spurs striker Robbie Keane drained by Paris upset and set to miss Wigan clash
21 Nov 2009 - 01:24:57
Republic of Ireland stars Richard Dunne, Robbie Keane, Liam Lawrence and Glenn Whelan are likely to be absent this weekend because they are physically and mentally drained by the Paris defeat.
Stoke midfielder Whelan came off against France with a groin strain but clubmate Lawrence, Aston Villa's Dunne and Spurs captain Keane are all likely to be rested.
End of the world: Republic of Ireland's Robbie Keane consoles team-mate Keith Andrews
Keane is likely to sit out Sunday's home game against Wigan
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said: 'Robbie is a sensible, clever guy who understands football - he has a fantastic football brain and knows how he feels. If he says to me "I feel a bit washed out" then that is good enough, I'll listen to him. If he says "I feel great", then I'll take that on board.'
'It's a massive disappointment for him, captain of his country. Hopefully it's not, but it could be his last chance to get to the World Cup Finals. But he'll came back strong, he's a great, bubbly character.'
Redknapp saw a marked contrast between the reactions of Keane and Russia's Roman Pavlyuchnko to their respective World Cup exits.
He said: 'Pav went through the same thing. They got knocked out, Russia. I just saw Pav and said "You all right, Pav?" and he went "That's football." "But you've lost in the World Cup?". "Oh, yes."... So he's ok.'
The former West Ham manager was more positive about Keane. 'He's been a great player for us, a terrific signing. I hate it when I hear people criticise him because we bought him here and he played a massive part in keeping us up last year. And it's no coincidence we went on a great run when he arrived.
'I felt the atmosphere around the place changed when he came, because of the way he is, the bubbly character he is. He's infectious, and he's done great for us.
'There's something about him. He's got an opinion on everything on football. He talks to players in the dressing room. Before a game he's the one in there saying "Come on lads, let's start well, let's get after them, let's close them down."
'At the start of the season people said "Well, you can't play Keane and (Jermain) Defoe - they can't play together. Well, we started beating Liverpool and went to Hull and scored five, then we went to West Ham (and won) and have done great. We've got 22 points, the best start Tottenham's had since they've been in the Premier League, and Robbie's got eight goals and has been top-class for us.
'I was surprised to get him at the time we did, after Liverpool had paid that money for him. We got him back for �8million cheaper. I felt he was vital for us. I thought: "If Robbie comes back we'll be ok." That was the type of feeling he gave me.'
Explore more:People:Richard Dunne, Robbie Keane, Liam Lawrence, Harry RedknappPlaces:Paris, Liverpool, Republic of Ireland, Russia, France
