Keane under to keep fitness timetable

ROY KEANE is hoping to return from injury to competitive action in Manchester United's home Champions' League fixture against Turkish club Fenerbahce in two weeks time. Keanes return to fitness at that time is vital if he is to be available to the Republic of Ireland for their World Cup qualifier against Iceland on November 10th.

However, Keane faces an uncertain two weeks. He is committed to further treatment for the injury which has kept him out ford the last three weeks and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson acknowledges that the midfielder still has some work to ado to get himself back to full fitness.

"Although the swelling on his leg has almost disappeared, it will be some time yet before he is ready to play again," said Ferguson yesterday before United departed for tomorrow's Champions League game against Fenerbahce in Turkey. "He's done well to get this far so quickly and by the time we get back from Turkey I expect that he will be able to do some light work.

"We could have done with Roy this week for he is the kind of hard competitor needed when you go to play in places like Turkey. It's a blow, but with a little bit of luck, he may just be right for the next game in a fortnight's time."

That kind of recovery timetable would not be unacceptable to the Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy who, like Ferguson, is anxious to have a fully fit Keane back in his squad.

McCarthy is scheduled to name his preliminary squad for the World Cup qualifier against Iceland the day before Manchester United's return meeting with Fenerbahce on October 30th. The likelihood now is that he will opt to postpone that announcement for a couple of days.

Following last Wednesday's win over the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, there are those who believe that Keane's presence in the team is not necessarily vital for the Iceland game.

It has to he said that for all his combative qualities, he was scarcely missed in the Macedonian fixture. In that game, Jason McAteer came of age as an international player with a masterly performance in his favoured position in central midfield, and with Ray Houghton expected, back in the squad in four weeks time, McCarthy will not be short of attacking options in that area.

The latest pressing from an Ireland point of view, but it will, of course, be different earl next year when the two meetings with Romania and the return game in Macedonia are likely to demand different priorities.

Only then will his selection become imperative. However, in, view of the publicity generated by what was perceived as a personality clash between manager and player, McCarthy will be anxious to welcome him back into the squad as early as possible.

Therefore Keane's name is likely to be one of the first down on McCarthy's squad sheet at the end of the month if his recovery progresses on schedule.

Keane apart, the manager is facing a couple of agonising decisions, among them the question of whether to bring Paul McGrath back into the squad after his exclusion from last Wednesday's game.

That decision was based primarily on the fact that McGrath had not been involved in club football on a regular basis, a situation which should now change with his move from Aston Villa to Derby County.

By the time the World Cup assignment rolls around, he may well have played four games for his new club, but whether this is sufficient to convince McCarthy of his match fitness remains to be seen.

There is a school of thought which suggests that, at 37, McGrath is no longer capable of making an effective contribution to World Cup qualification. Undeniably, the great days are gone for, McGrath, but those who retire him prematurely do so at their peril.

Gary Kelly is some 15 years younger than McGrath but his dilemma is no less acute as he contemplates his remarkable decline from a position when he rated as one of the most acclaimed players in the national team.

These are difficult days for the Leeds United player, who suffered more than most as standards slipped at Elland Road recently. The certainty is that he will have a role to play before the World Cup campaign is very much older.

. Alan Maybury, the Leeds United player who has already been chosen for the under-21 squad is in the Republic of Ireland squad for the youths' mini international tournament to be played in Dublin on October 22nd-26th. Denmark who Ireland meet in the opening game of the tournament at Dalymount Park on October 22nd, and Poland are the other countries taking part.