CARSON, Calif. – There was never any question whether Robbie Keane would accept a call-up from Ireland's national team during the 2014 MLS Playoffs, presented AT&T, especially when the postseason has a break for the mid-November international fixture dates.
As long as he's healthy and fit to play, Keane plans to head overseas following the LA Galaxy's Western Conference semifinal series with Real Salt Lake – no matter how it turns out – for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland and a friendly against the US, a game Keane acknowledges is pretty special.
“I'm looking forward to it,” said Keane, who was on manager Martin O'Neill's preliminary roster released Wednesday for the team’s Nov. 18 clash with the Americans in Dublin. “The relationship between the Irish and Americans is very strong. There's a lot of Americans in Ireland.
“It's a game that, I think, should happen probably on a regular basis.”
Keane, 34, the Irish captain, holds his country's records for international appearances (137) and goals (65), and he's previously insisted that he'll play for his country every opportunity he can.
Ireland are 2-0-1 and behind only Poland on goal differential in Group D of European Championship qualifying, and their final competitive match until March is against the Scots on Nov. 14 in Glasgow.
Should the Galaxy beat RSL in their opening playoff series – the first leg is Saturday in Utah (8 pm ET, NBCSN; get tickets here), the second on Nov. 9 at StubHub Center – Keane would leave the Galaxy for possibly more than a week ahead of the Western Conference final against the Seattle Sounders or FC Dallas.
He'll be monitoring a hamstring injury, which kept him out of the Galaxy's loss last weekend to Seattle, ahead of the trip.
“As long as I'm fit and ready to play … I'll just continue to play, regardless of whether it's for Ireland or whether it's for the Galaxy,” he said. “As long as I'm fit, I'll be there [with Ireland].”
Keane, who earlier this month broke the career mark for European Championship qualifying goals (21) with a hat trick in a 7-0 rout of Gibraltar, says he doesn't experience much in the way of jet lag, that travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Europe hasn't bothered him.
“There's really no effect,” he said after returning from the Oct. 11 win over Gibraltar and a 1-1 draw at Germany. “I came in last night, feel fine, and going back to Ireland is the same. I'm usually someone with a lot of energy anyway, so in that respect, I'm quite lucky.”
