Roy Keane’s focus still fixed firmly on England despite the obvious distractions

They live, one imagine, on the adrenaline of it all out in the FAI press office where each John Delaney public appearance brings the possibility for an exciting new challenge. And if that's not enough, there's always the next Roy Keane press conference.

Most of those go well, with Keane, for all the run-ins, well regarded by the media who generally appreciate somebody with something insightful to say. Still, anything, as we know from experience, can happen at these affairs, and on a day like yesterday there is as great a sense of anticipation on one side of the ropes pitchside in Gannon Park as there must be apprehension among the association staffers on the other.

Keane, in this form, appears to view it all as a bit of sport. Half a dozen times in different ways he essentially tells one group of journalists or another “not to go there” while struggling at the same time, it seems, to resist the temptation himself.

“Is John Delaney a distraction?” he is asked bluntly at one point, and there is a split second during which it is unclear how he will react. Then his stern face cracks into a smile and he laughs slightly as he replies: “Isn’t he always?”

Shortly after the cameras depart, it all starts again with the daily newspapers. A journalist – the same one who prompted a reaction back in November by asking the Corkman about the incident in the team hotel when he called the Garda over a troublesome outsider – inquires about the former midfielder’s view on the finality of referees’ decisions.

“Where are you going with this?” asks Keane.

“I think you know where I’m going,” comes the reply.

On another day, even this brief exchange might herald the arrival of tin-hat time, but the tone yesterday was relentlessly light, with Keane turning the heat on in a different way by citing a couple of examples that throw a bit of a spanner in the works of his questioner.

Obligation

When somebody feels the need to explain the obligation on those present to pursue the line of questioning, Keane seems surprised.

“Of course,” he says, emphatically, “and I was expecting it . . . but we’ve got a game on Sunday and that’s got to be my focus. Listen, I’m not thinking about anything else today. I’m not thinking about family, holidays, ye lads, my dogs . . . I’m thinking about the game on Sunday. That is my job.”

Ah yes, the game. One that the FAI has waited 20 years for and which Delaney seemed to have been talking about for almost as long. Then he goes and creates a diversion big enough to make it seem like a sideshow.

The match remains important, though, even if its timing in the run-up to next Saturday's qualifier against Scotland has added a sense that it is first and foremost a curtain-raiser for something else.

Martin O'Neill will not want his side to lose – no Ireland team has lost to England since 1985 – but there will inevitably be a need to ensure key players make it through unscathed and that might take a little of the edge off a contest that would normally be expected to have that little bit of derby feel to it.

Up for grabs

Keane said yesterday that the players know that there are places up for grabs, but it is not entirely clear where or how many.

Robbie Brady

scarcely put an end to any debate over the left back slot against the Poles, while Keane talked up

Harry Arter

to the extent that there was a sense he might be given an opportunity from the outset in midfield.

“He’s technically very good,” said the Ireland assistant manager. “He can deal with the ball. He did well yesterday and I’m sure he’ll be looking to get involved on Sunday.

“Harry’s a good player,” he continued. “Obviously the higher you go up the different levels, you have got to be able to deal with the ball and he certainly does that . . . hopefully he will have a big part to play for us.”

Having had a decent night when the two sides drew two years ago, scoring late on last time out for Ireland, Shane Long will be hoping to impress again here with the Southampton striker looking a likely starter.

But it will be interesting to see which of his other attacking options O'Neill uses. Against Poland, the manager made his intent clear but the balance didn't look right early on and for all the talk of Ireland's second-half dominance, there was a distinct sense that the visitors simply blundered as they dug in to defend their first-half lead.

England, for their part, are preparing for a trip to Slovenia but with the team very much on course for a comfortable qualification, there is little pressure on Roy Hodgson ahead of this game.

After an eventful week for him, Tom Cleverley has been drafted into the travelling party following the withdrawal of Tottenham’s Ryan Mason. Fabian Delph and Adam Lallana, meanwhile, have had their build-ups disrupted by minor injuries but both are expected to be fit and available for a game that should, despite the hefty prices for a friendly, just about sell out.

There is talk of quite a few ticketless England fans travelling but with the early kick-off and lessened tensions, it is hard to see there being any significant problems. Whether there will be memorable performances is another thing, but if O’Neill’s men come out the other side in good shape to face the Scots, then it will surely be regarded as a success.