Shane Long will be the Republic of Ireland’s ‘main man’ at Euro 2016 says Roy Keane

Shane Long has been tipped to be the main man for Ireland at Euro 2016 by assistant manager Roy Keane

Roy Keane has backed Shane Long ‘to be the main man’ as the Irish attacking spearhead at the Euro finals.

The Irish No 2 insists in-form Long can leave an imprint on French turf after a 16-goal season for Southampton and his promotion to Robbie Keane’s successor as Ireland’s first-choice forward.

‘With Robbie coming towards an end, Shane maybe sees it as does he want to be the main man. The signs are that I think he can be,’ said Keane on Wednesday.

Had Long started on Tuesday night, Keane reckoned Ireland might have avoided the embarrassment of losing at home to Belarus.

‘When you saw him coming on you feel pretty sure that had he started with that much confidence, we probably might have won the game,’ said Keane.

‘Shane’s a good age, 29, and seems to be peaking now. If you spoke to Shane, the first thing he would say is that he is feeling very, very confident.’

Darren Randolph may have been allocated the last number in the Republic of Ireland squad, 23, but he will be number one on the team-sheet to face Sweden on June 13, according to Keane.

The 29-year-old West Ham goalkeeper is Martin O’Neill’s first-choice ’keeper for the finals in France.

Shay Given and Keiren Westwood have more international experience but the laid-back Bray native has won O’Neill’s trust since his debut against Germany last October.

‘You’d like to think there is good competition between Shay (Given) and Westie (Westwood) but Darren, you would say at the moment, has the number 1 jersey,’ said Keane.

The Irish gloves passed from David Forde to Given to Randolph in the qualifiers while Rob Elliot was favourite to seize them for the finals before injury in March.

After Harry Arter joined Elliot as a Euro KO, the Irish medical team will keep a close on eye on Keane between now and the Euro finals.

Keane, 35, is struggling to be fully fit for the Sweden game as he recovers from a calf strain.

‘Generally speaking, Robbie’s injury record is very good although he’s had a difficult few months with the previous injury.

‘If he misses a week or two it’s not the end of the world for Robbie.’

If Keane’s calf doesn’t respond as anticipated, or be breaks down, he can be replaced up to June 12. ‘We have that safety net at the back of our minds. We spoke to players going home last night about staying right….the days where lads went off to Aya Napa and got drunk for two weeks is gone.

‘If Robbie broke down in next few days, or someone else, you have that back-up.’

Keane confirmed that he and O’Neill will head to Sweden’s final warm-up against Wales in Stockholm on Sunday.

‘The plan is to go there with Martin on Sunday, I think. In a camper van,’ he quipped.