As the tributes continue to flow in for Robbie Keane in the aftermath of his retirement from international football, Stephen Ward believes that as a nation we should be immensely proud of what the Irish goalscorer has actually achieved.
The curtain came down on Keane's career in the Irish jersey on Wednesday and the Dubliner was again among the goals as Martin O'Neill's side recorded a 4-0 win over Oman in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium.
Keane was on hand to Ireland's second on a night where he made his 146th and final appearance for his country. His now former colleague Ward was quick to hail the contribution from the Tallaght native in an international career that lasted 18 years.
"Everyone knows how good a player he has been and Over the months and years ahead people will realise that we've had one of the international greats," he said.
"Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone. I know it's the old cliche.
"As a nation we should be immensely proud that we had a player of such quality."
The former Bohemians and now Burnley player also hailed Keane's achievement as captain of his country.
"He was an out and out captain. He made everybody that came into the squad feel at home. He always had time to talk to you and to ask you how you were getting on at club level.
"I think when you have somebody like that at the head of your squad it's a real plus."
Ireland's 'greatest sporting patriot' pic.twitter.com/G3objvXl1K
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 1, 2016
As the Republic embark on a World Cup qualifying campaign that begins with a game away to Serbia on Monday, Ward is confident that we have that talent in the squad to get the goals that can take us to Russia in the summer of 2018.
"We have a young lads coming through and a lot of lads that can score goals," he predicted.
"I feel in the team at the moment we have a lot of goals in us not just from front areas but in other areas of the pitch.
"Just look at Brady (Robbie) getting his goal against Oman.
"In any free kick we get you feel we have a chance of scoring. I feel that we have the lads in the squad to chip in and take that burden on.
"Above all, we still have a lot of big characters in the squad."
