Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane reckons Damien Duff's return against Brazil on Wednesday night will give the nation a "massive boost".Duff's first start for 10 months will temporarily divert attention away from the hunt for Steve Staunton's successor at Croke Park.
Giovanni Trapattoni and Terry Venables are locked in a battle to land the role although a scheduled Sunday announcement was cancelled and the issue is unlikely to be settled for at least another week.
The confusion has reportedly led a number of senior internationals to consider their futures with Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan and Andy O'Brien already announcing their international retirements.
Keane believes the return of the Newcastle winger will give the Republic the feelgood factor they badly need insisting: "Damien's return is a massive, massive boost.
"He is one of the best in the Premier League at getting crosses in so to have someone doing that is brilliant. He brings the best out of everyone."
Caretaker-boss Don Givens, who is also head of the Football Association of Ireland's panel charged with appointing a new boss, also said he was excited by the return of Duff following his long spell out.
Givens said: "I think he's well on his way back. I saw him two weeks ago and for 45 minutes he looked to be back to the real Damien Duff.
"It has been a long time and you can't get back just like that. But he's had a number of games now for Newcastle and he's looking sharper in training."
Givens refused to elaborate on the latest managerial situation, insisting only that he was concentrating on the Brazil game and would not have anything more to say until post-match at the earliest.
Keane did his best to quell the unrest in the dressing room by insisting he had full faith in the selection procedure, and that the situation had not prompted him to question his own international future.
Keane added: "I think everyone wants the new man sooner rather than later and it's probably gone on longer than people expected, but it will only be a matter of time then the team and the country can move on.
"People have their own opinions and they have their own reasons to retire. But I cannot comment for them, I can only comment on my situation and there is no way at this moment in time that I am going to be retiring."
Givens will be without Blackburn's Steven Reid for the Brazil game with the midfielder having returned home with a knee injury, while Darren Potter's place on the bench is in doubt due to sickness.
Brazil may be without Kaka but coach Dunga is expected to name a trio of Premier League players in his line-up, in Arsenal's Gilberto, Chelsea's Alex and Anderson of Manchester United.
Keane added: "You can't be fearing them. If you fear them you've got no chance. I'm sure we'll kick them but I don't think they would expect us to let them come here and just keep the ball for 90 minutes.
"When you're growing up as a kid you want to play against Brazil and the players will relish that. It's always great to captain your country but it is a special occasion when it is against Brazil."
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