Town boss Roy Keane says defender Darren O’Dea should have been sent straight back to Portman Road after suffering a knee injury in training with the Republic of Ireland last week. Instead the on-loan Celtic man was taken to Armenia despite having no involvement in the squad and ended up back in Suffolk almost a week later.

O’Dea suffered a sprain to his knee in training with Ireland a week ago on Tuesday and then on the Thursday flew to Armenia for Ireland’s first Euro 2012 qualifier on the Friday to watch from the stands as his side won 1-0.

Keane says O’Dea, who he rates as 50/50 for Saturday’s game at Portsmouth, should have been sent back prior to that game: “Having travelled all the way over to Armenia, he was then told he wouldn’t have a chance of being involved because they didn’t feel he was 100% fit.

“I’ve no argument with that, at least they didn’t risk him. I’m not arguing with the decision, it was when the decision was taken. It should have been taken before they left Dublin airport.

“They could have flown him back here but they tried to give him another couple of days to try and get fit for Andorra when he was never going to play anyway because I can guarantee that Trapattoni was going to pick the same team, barring injuries.”

Keane is equally disappointed that once the decision to send O’Dea back had finally been taken, the FAI took some while to organise his return: “The FAI couldn’t get a flight, I’m surprised they didn’t send him home on the boat, and he didn’t get back here until Monday lunchtime.

“So, a player who got injured last week we end up getting back seven days later. He should have been back straight away.”

The Town boss’s mood wasn’t improved by another of his left-sided defenders picking up an injury while with the Irish U21s: “Shane O’Connor’s torn his hamstring and is out for a number of weeks.”

Photo: Action Images

Tractorog added 09:37 - Sep 10 Shades of Fergie...
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bedsitfc added 09:38 - Sep 10 too right keano, he should have been back asap. hope you have words with fai.
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PutneyBlue added 09:46 - Sep 10 That won't be the first time
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BLUEBEAT added 09:58 - Sep 10 RK's bitterness towards the FAI goes up another notch... :D
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jas0999 added 10:14 - Sep 10 Totally agree with Roy. Annoying.
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Hunterssecondball added 10:14 - Sep 10 I don't think Keane does bitterness. He's better than that. He is just stating the bleedin' obvious which everyone can see except the FAI! Still as disorganised as in his playing day! More like Incredulity !! (spelling?!)
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dubblue added 10:21 - Sep 10 Would'nt it be ironic if Keane became Ireland manager some day! I think on this occasion he has a point.
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Fatboy added 10:22 - Sep 10 I'm fairly sure Armenia's land-locked. Even so, it would've taken longer than a week to get back by boat! The fact they took him suggests that his injury can't be all that bad. Hopefully see him on the pitch on Saturday.
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robdaful added 11:14 - Sep 10 Agree with Keane on this one.
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kerryblue added 11:28 - Sep 10 What more can you expect from the likes of the FAI?If it was the likes of John Delaney the big wig looking to rush home you may bet a flight would have been found for him.They are a sham of an organisation and always were.
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brian_a_mul added 11:37 - Sep 10 O'Dea, Delaney, Kennedy and now O'Connor out. We have a slight concern at LB for the weekend. I think if O'Dea is some bit fit we have no choice but to play him. He is fond of the crunching ball & man style of tackling though, lets hope if he does play he comes through unscathed,
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brogansnose added 17:02 - Sep 10 That FAI thing runs long and deep. Got to agree with Roy though.
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