Robbie Keane injury hands Doyle Republic reprieve against Austria

The Republic of Ireland will be without record goal scorer Robbie Keane for their upcoming World Cup Qualifying Group C clash against the Austrians, in which Giovanni Trapattoni’s men are even money favourites to win with Coral.

Having taken part in every Republic of Ireland international squad (fitness allowing) for seven and a half years, Doyle was initially overlooked in the 23-man squad for Tuesday’s contest, with his form suffering along with that of his team mates at a Wolverhampton Wanderers , currently toiling towards the bottom of the Championship.

Against Bristol City in the last game before the international break Doyle broke a 15-game goal drought that had stretched back as far as the first of December last year  and he’s managed only eight goals in 39 games across all competitions this term.

Despite initially being overlooked for a squad berth this time around the Wolves striker’s knack for goal remains unfettered when he turns out in the emerald green shirt of his homeland. Doyle has made one start and two substitute appearances for the Republic in 2012/13 yet he’s netted twice, including a 90th minute winner in the qualifier with Kazakhstan.

Perhaps the sole disappointing aspect of the Ireland’s highly encouraging 0-0 draw in Sweden was their strikers’ inability to convert chances, with Robbie Keane and Shane Long both spurning good opportunities to give their side the lead they would have merited.

As a proven international goal getter who has amassed 12 goals in 52 appearances for his nation Doyle is expected to play some part against the Austrians and can be backed at 5/2 to score any time or 7/1 to score last in the fixture with Coral.

Their visitors are currently level on seven points with Ireland in Group C but despite these credentials they have long been prone to conceding on the road, shipping goals in 18 of their last 20 away games. Kazakhstan are the only side during that sequence to draw a blank against Marcel Koller’s men meaning that there’s every chance should he get his chance that Doyle could profit with a goal.