REPUBLIC of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill will keep his fingers crossed over key men Robbie Keane and James McCarty after naming them in his 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
Neither the Los Angeles Galaxy striker nor the Everton midfielder played any part in the final two warm-up games because of calf and thigh injuries respectively, but were included when O'Neill announced his squad after Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat by Belarus at Turner's Cross.
Indeed, the manager admitted 67-goal Keane might not make the opening game against Sweden in Paris on June 13. Asked if the 35-year-old would be fit, O'Neill said: "He thinks that he could be. If it's not Sweden, he thinks he'll be fit for the second game. That's the thoughts at this minute. But I'm not a doctor.
"Robbie is the captain of the side, Robbie feels he is going to be fit. James McCarthy did a little bit of work today and there was a good improvement in that sense. That helps a lot. I'm not a soothsayer, but I think that there's a fairly decent chance that they are going to be okay. We have got a little bit of time.
"James came off in that last game, but he has played a lot of matches for Everton, obviously, he's a pretty fit lad anyway at the best of times, but like anything else, you'd like some time on the field.
"But we can organise games while we are out in France, we have a little bit of time if that's the case - and even before that because we have got a week's training to do here."
The pair will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness before the big kick-off, although O'Neill hinted the safety net of being able to call up a replacement if a doctor adjudges an injury to be serious was at the back of his mind.
He said: "We have got a couple of injured players at this moment - Robbie Keane and James McCarthy - and while you want to be going in with some skilful players, you obviously need to balance that with players who are fit.
"But the rules state that, if some players don't make it through, you have got a little bit of time, so who knows what might happen? But this is the 23 that we have chosen. I have gone with it now, that's my 23."
There was a seat on the plane too for 40-year-old keeper Shay Given, who had become Ireland's longest serving player earlier in the day having stretched his international career to 20 years and 65 days.
But that meant heartache for Davide Forde, who missed out along with Darron Gibson, Eunan O'Kane, David McGoldrick, Callum O'Dowda and Harry Arter, who suffered a thigh injury in training on Monday evening.
O'Neill admitted the decision-making process had been a difficult one: "I'll tell you why the decisions are tough - they are tough because these lads want to play for their country and that's the big issue," he said.
"At club level, you can talk to players. It's an every week occurrence. I'm not saying it's always easy to leave players out, particularly when big games or big tournaments are around the corner, but at club level you feel as if you will see the player two days later, you might sit down and have a chat about it again.
"Some of these players will obviously leave the 23 tomorrow and that will be disappointing for them because they do want to play. They want to play for their country, they have got great pride in doing so.
"I'm not exaggerating that for the sake of it, but that's the difference between that and club level."
IRELAND SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
SHAY GIVEN (Stoke, 20/4/76, caps 134, goals 0)
Retired from international football after Euro 2012, but returned to the fold two years later and had reestablished himself as his country's number one before succumbing to a knee injury.
DARREN RANDOLPH (West Ham, 12/5/87, caps 9, goals 0)
Played much of his club football in Europe and the domestic club competitions this season, but replaced the injured Given against Germany and looks to have established himself as first-choice.
KEIREN WESTWOOD (Sheffield Wednesday, 23/10/84, caps 18, goals 0)
Turned in a fine individual display in Wednesday's Sky Bet Championship play-off final defeat by Hull and has played regularly this season, but not for Ireland, for whom he last appeared in June 2015.
DEFENDERS
SEAMUS COLEMAN (Everton, 11/10/88, caps 34, goals 0)
As near a certainty as there is in the squad to start every game, he has established himself as one of Ireland's most dependable and accomplished performers in recent years.
CYRUS CHRISTIE (Derby, 30/9/92, caps 5, goals 1)
A more than able deputy for Coleman, he has impressed when called upon and opened his international goalscoring account against Gibraltar during the qualifying campaign.
CIARAN CLARK (Aston Villa, 26/9/89, caps 17, goals 2)
Has enjoyed significantly better fortunes with his country than with his club in recent times and is a genuine option for a starting berth.
RICHARD KEOGH (Derby, 11/8/86, caps 12, goals 1)
Another who never lets Ireland down, he has helped to create stiff competition for the central-defensive berths.
JOHN O'SHEA (Sunderland, 30/4/81, caps 111, goals 3)
The stalwart of O'Neill's rearguard, his late equaliser in Germany on his 100th appearance for his country claimed a priceless point on the road to France.
SHANE DUFFY (Blackburn, 1/1/92, caps 3 goals 0)
A man who nearly died on a football pitch has bounced back to revitalise his career and give O'Neill food for thought when he assesses the relative merits of his possible central-defensive combinations.
STEPHEN WARD (Burnley, 20/8/85, caps 33, goals 3)
Played his part in both Burnley's return to the Barclays Premier League and Ireland's qualification, lining up for the famous win over Germany having previously made just one appearance for his club this season.
MIDFIELDERS
AIDEN McGEADY (Everton, 4/4/86, caps 82, goals 5)
Spent the second half of the season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in a bid to keep his Euros dream alive, but is a favourite of O'Neill's from their time together at Celtic.
JAMES McCLEAN (West Brom, 22/4/89, caps 38, goals 5)
Another man who cut his teeth under O'Neill at club level, in his case with Sunderland, he has prospered for Ireland, particularly when used as an impact substitute.
GLENN WHELAN (Stoke, 13/1/84, caps 71, goals 2)
A fixture in O'Neill's side as he was under predecessor Giovanni Trapattoni, he provides the security in front of the back-four.
JAMES McCARTHY (Everton, 12/11/90, caps 35, goals 0)
The fulcrum upon which O'Neill's team pivots, he has become increasingly important to his country's hopes, hence the concern over his pre-tournament injury problems.
JEFF HENDRICK (Derby, 31/1/92, caps 21, goals 0)
A man who brings industry, youthful endeavour and craft to midfield, he has in a short time established himself as a very useful weapon to his manager.
DAVID MEYLER (Hull, 29/5/89, caps 16, goals 0)
A versatile player, who has lined up in both midfield and at right-back for his country and also contributed to Hull's return to the Barclays Premier League for next season.
STEPHEN QUINN (Reading, 1/4/86, caps 15, goals 0)
The kind of industrious midfielder O'Neill knows he can trust to do a job for him, to the extent that he selected him to start the away qualifiers against Georgia and Germany.
WES HOOLAHAN (Norwich, 20/5/82, caps 30, goals 2)
One of the most naturally gifted players in the squad, his invention could prove key in tight games as he attempts to bounce back from the disappointment of relegation.
ROBBIE BRADY (Norwich, 14/1/92, caps 23, goals 4)
A midfielder by trade, but more often in recent times a left-back, he is a key member of the team with his delivery from set-pieces one of the most potent elements of the Irish armoury.
JONATHAN WALTERS (Stoke, 20/9/83, caps 39, 10)
Whether used as a battering centre-forward or a robust wide-midfielder, he provides a focal point for the team and has chipped in with important goals, none more so than the two he scored against Bosnia-Herzegovina to clinch Ireland's trip to France.
STRIKERS
ROBBIE KEANE (LA Galaxy, 7/8/80, caps 143, goals 67)
Ireland's record appearance holder and goalscorer is confident there is still a final flourish to come as he approaches the end of his illustrious international career.
SHANE LONG (Southampton, 22/1/87, caps 63, goals 16)
Ended the domestic season in fine goalscoring form after earlier blasting home the winner against Germany on a night when qualification became a distinct possibility once again.
DARYL MURPHY (Ipswich, 15/3/83, caps 21, goals 0)
Found himself O'Neill's go-to frontman for the vital qualifier against Germany and both legs of the play-off, although he is yet to open his account for his country.
