Roy Keane wasn’t impressed by Celtic defender Shane Duffy during Thursday’s 3-0 defeat to England, telling ITV Sport the Republic of Ireland were missing their “best player” in Everton captain Seamus Coleman.
Six games into the Stephen Kenny era, Ireland still await their first win – not to mention their first goal from open play.
In truth, neither duck looked likely to be broken as ROI were swept aside by a vibrant and youthful England side at Wembley last night.
A captain’s header from Harry Maguire set the Three Lions on their way to a 3-0 triumph as Duffy, who has endured a miserable time since joining boyhood team Celtic on loan from Brighton, was outjumped by Manchester United’s centre-back.
Meanwhile, a poor Ireland side badly missed the energy and tenacity of long-serving skipper Coleman after the right-back was ruled out on the eve of the game.
“It probably doesn’t help that Ireland’s best player at the moment is a full-back in Seamus Coleman,” ROI legend Keane said after his country were beaten by their old rivals for the first time since 1985.
“There are a lot of good, solid pros in the squad but none of them are pulling up any trees at club level. So many of them are playing in the Championship and that bit of quality is missing. You need that to win matches at international level.
“Duffy is having a difficult spell club-wise and Harry Maguire looked like he wanted it a little bit more (for the first goal). When the ball comes into the box you ask, who wants it more?”
Duffy isn’t the only Ireland veteran struggling in new surroundings.
Jeff Hendrick has endured a difficult couple of weeks in Newcastle United’s porous midfield and Keane was convinced he should have done more to stop Jadon Sancho sweeping home England’s second on Thursday.
“Jeff Hendrick has got to get tighter. At this level, the idea that players can be two or three yards away from someone like Sancho and get away with it is not good enough.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
