Vieira and Keane in line for return

Knee pain
Vieira missed his side's 6-0 victory against Malta on Saturday with a minor knee problem and was replaced by FC Sochaux-Montbéliard youngster Benoît Pedretti. However, the Arsenal FC captain is expected to regain his place for the Group 1 game against Israel, which is being played in Palermo for security reasons.

'Not painful anymore'
"It is not painful any more and I am at the coach's disposal," Vieira said. Coach Jacques Santini also hinted that the 26-year-old is in line to return. "If Vieira is [fully] fit there is a good chance he will be back with the team on Wednesday," he said. The defending European champions are eight points clear at the top of Group 1, having scored an impressive 17 goals in winning their opening four qualifiers.

Keane available
Keane, meanwhile, who missed Ireland's 2-1 victory against Georgia on Saturday following the death of his father, is available for selection for his country's game against Albania. The Tottenham Hotspur FC forward is flying to Tirana to meet his international colleagues and looks set for a starting role in the Group 10 game. "We are certainly looking forward to Robbie joining the squad, it will be a major boost," said Ireland assistant manager Chris Hughton.

Kilbane and Doherty knocks
Manager Brian Kerr might elect to move Damien Duff, a scorer against Georgia, back into midfield at the expense of Lee Carsley and pair Keane up front with Gary Doherty, who scored the winner. Doherty is nursing a bruised ankle and Kevin Kilbane also has a slight groin problem but both are expected to be fit. Ireland are fourth in the group, one point behind Albania who beat Russia 3-1 at the weekend.

Danish duo withdraw
Winger Jesper Gronkjaer and midfield player Christian Poulsen have pulled out of the Denmark squad for their Group 2 qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday. Gronkjaer has a strained stomach muscle while Poulsen is suffering from bruised ribs and a sore right foot sustained during Saturday's 5-2 win in Romania. Brøndby IF's Per Nielsen and FC København's Ole Tobiasen will replace them.

Beckham blisters
Finally, England trained for their qualifier against Turkey without David Beckham on Monday after their captain developed foot blisters. Beckham, who scored England's second goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory in Liechtenstein, is still expected to play in Wednesday's match against the Group 7 leaders in Sunderland. Kieron Dyer also missed training but this again will not affect his availability.

Click here for yesterday's EURO 2004™ injury news