MARTIN O'NEILL has conceded that Ireland are missing the quality of Robbie Keane’s goal scoring, following the 2-1 home defeat by Turkey on Sunday.
The Ireland manager was frustrated with his side’s missed chances that led the team to their second consecutive defeat at the Aviva Stadium, after several errors in front of goal against Serbia in March resulted in the same score line.
Keane, who is Ireland's record goal scorer, is due to participate in the US leg of the summer fixtures and O'Neill admitted that the match against Turkey highlighted the importance of the LA Galaxy man’s role up front.
"I would have to agree with that," O’Neill said.
"I suppose there's a feeling, and it never works out that way, but you get a feeling Robbie might have put one of those chances away.
"Still, putting the ball in the net is difficult. Maybe it's not as hard as we make it out to be but our return – for the number of really decent chances we've created in the two games – should be a lot, lot better."
Shane Long rued his misfiring in front of goal as a “disappointment”, but aims to refocus and be selected for the squad to face Italy in Saturday’s friendly at London’s Craven Cottage.
Looking ahead to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, O’Neill explained that he will decide nearer to September if QPR’s Richard Dunne will feature for Ireland.
Dunne recently ruled himself out of the summer internationals due to the effects of a long season and his team’s triumphant display in Saturday’s play-off final against Derby County.
"I've spoken to him some months ago but before I got back to speaking to him again,” O’Neill said.
“He'd said he'd ruled himself out of these games but not ruled himself out of playing for Ireland again, so I'll assess it closer to the time.”
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