Kilbane decision due tomorrow

Soccer: Kevin Kilbane's remarkable record of 66 consecutive competitive games for the Republic of Ireland looks likely to end this Friday after the veteran sat out another training session in Malahide this morning, but a decision on his fitness will wait until tomorrow.

The Derby County player aggravated a back strain on Monday and gave yesterday’s session a miss in the hope he could train today. However, he was forced to take it easy again and a call on whether or not he should return to his club early was expected to be made by the medical staff tonight. That decision has now been postponed until tomorrow.

"Further to this afternoon’s training session, Kevin Kilbane’s back strain will continue to be monitored overnight," read an FAI statement this evening. "An update on his fitness will be given tomorrow."

If he does return to England, Stephen Ward is in line to make his competitive debut against Slovakia on Friday, the first of two crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers in the space of four days. Ireland host co-leaders Slovakia before travelling to Russia to face the other pacesetters in Group B, Russia, on Tuesday.

Kilbane’s run of games stretches back to a Euro 2000 play-off against Turkey in 1999, but Ward has proved himself capable of stepping into the role with impressive performances in the Carling Nations Cup in May and a solid outing in the 2-0 friendly win over Italy in June.

"Stephen Ward now is a strong player," said assistant manager Marco Tardelli today. "He’s young and he runs for the whole match. He’s very good with his head. Now, he’s ready to play an important match."

Goalkeeper Shay Given was the only other player who did not train today, after arrivng late from Aston Villa following treatment on his own back injury. Captain Robbie Keane had his first run out with his international team-mates since his move to MLS after arriving in Dublin from LA yesterday evening.

Both, however, need another day's rest according Tardelli.

"Yeah, he’s fine," the Italian said of Keane. "I think he still needs one day to rest but he’ll be okay for Friday. Shay Given needs a day of rest because he got a little injury Sunday (Saturday) but he’s good and I think that on Ffriday he will be fit."

Pressed on whether there serious doubts over the Donegalman, he added: "No, I think he will be fine for Friday. No doubts."

During the training session at Gannon Park, striker shane Long appeared to be playing with 'likely starters', though Tardelli dismissed it was an indicator of Friday's line-up.

"There is a first team? In the training? I don’t know," he joked. "They trained today and (Kevin) Doyle was fit as well. During the training (Simon) Cox played well as well. That’s important for us cos it means that we have good options."