Keane will be fit for Ireland says Fergie

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has told Mick McCarthy to count Roy Keane in for the World Cup play-offs against Iran.


And the Irish boss has earmarked star striker Ali Daei as the biggest threat to his World Cup hopes in the November knock-out games.

Ferguson gave McCarthy the good news about the Ireland and United captain in a phone call to the Middle East on Wednesday afternoon. Fergie made the call just hours before McCarthy saw Daei lead Iran to a 3-0 win, 4-0 on aggregate, over the United Arab Emirates in the Asian play-offs.

"Alex called to discuss Roy and the news was all good," a delighted McCarthy told Sports.com from Abu Dhabi. "Roy is still injured at the moment and his knee problem has stopped him from training with United. But Alex has said that he will be fit for Ireland and to count on him for the game against Iran.
"He is sure that Roy has enough time on his side to be made available for the Ireland game in the play-offs and I have to say that this is great news."

Keane was one of five injured players named in McCarthy's squad on Wednesday, ahead of the November 10 game at Lansdowne Road. And the Republic boss expects Kevin Kilbane, Niall Quinn, Mark Kennedy and Steven Reid to be fit for that first crack at an Iranian side now coached by former Croatia boss Miroslav Blazevic.

He also expects that Daei will be the player to watch after witnessing Iran's 3-0 win in Abu Dhabi.

"He is a class act, there is no doubt about that. There is a swagger about Daei that suggests he is both a great player and someone who knows it," said McCarthy.
"He made a difference to them from the first leg and he did score a great goal but the thing that amazed me about this game was the total domination of the UAE for so long without them ever managing to score.

"When Iran had Jamshidi sent-off, they had to sit back on their lead. As a result UAE dominated the match and I have never seen a team with 10 men dominated like that before. "It was in complete contrast to the game in Tehran when Iran were always the dominant force. They won 3-0 in the end but UAE had chances and didn't take them."

McCarthy's one disappointment in Abu Dhabi centred on that dismissal and UAE's subsequent reduction to 10 men as well in the second-half.  "The Iranian red card changed the shape of the game and meant I didn't see a lot of the real Iran afterwards," added the Irish boss.

"I'd have preferred to see how they play with 11 men away from home. Their attitude was different to the game in Tehran and they will try to defend in Dublin.  "But at least I have seen them twice in a week now and that is a bonus ahead of the play-offs."