KEANE HAPPY TO WING IT

Keane - faces Colombia on Thursday.

Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane cannot wait to benefit from Giovanni Trapattoni's determination to attack.

The Italian will send his team out against Colombia at Craven Cottage this evening under orders to take the game to the South Americans, and with two wingers charged with the task of supplying Keane and strike partner Kevin Doyle.

Celtic star Aiden McGeady and Damien Duff will look to feed Doyle and, from a slightly deeper position, Keane as Ireland attempt to build on the defensive resilience they showed against Serbia at the weekend.

Keane said: "You ask any striker, to be playing with two attacking players who can go past players very easily and get crosses in, it certainly makes your job a lot easier.

"If that happens, you are going to get a lot of chances. Hopefully that will be true tonight."

McGeady, in particular, was in fine form for his club as they staged a late rally to overhaul arch-rivals Rangers and lift the Scottish Premier League title for the third successive year.

Keane has looked on as the 22-year-old has enhanced his reputation both at home and in the Champions League, and is excited at the prospect of linking up with him once again.

He said: "As you get older and get more games under your belt, you get more mature, you get stronger.

"In the games I have seen him in this season, he has been absolutely fantastic, and he thoroughly deserved player of the year.

"To do what he has done this year has been tremendous. To play in the Champions League, against the players he has - every game I watched him in the Champions League, on numerous occasions he roasted the full-backs.

"He's getting better and better and as he gets older, if he gets better than he is now, he will be fantastic."

Ireland's preparations for tonight's game were conducted as the debate over Liam Brady's position on the coaching staff continued - amid claims several senior players are unhappy with comments he made in the recent past as a columnist and television pundit.

However, Keane was quick to dismiss the the speculation.

He said: "At the end of the day, we are all men. You are going to get criticised in every walk of life.

"Being in this situation we are in, we are privileged to be doing what we are doing.

"You can't always have highs in your life, there are going to be some lows and you are going to have to deal with them.

"Regarding Liam Brady, it hasn't been a problem since he's been in.

"Me personally, if I looked back at all the videos of what Liam Brady said, I would be there all day, all week even.

"It doesn't bother me. I can't remember, I'm sure there must have been times when he said a few things about me, but that's life.

"There's been a lot of speculation, but it hasn't been a problem with the players."