Grasping at straws, perhaps, but as long as there is a mathematical chance of Ireland qualifying for Euro 2024, it is hard to criticise the manager for pushing that particular agenda, as Greece arrive in Dublin for tonight's Euro 2024 qualifier.
The qualification pulse may still be beating, but the signal is weak, very weak, as Ireland need the Dutch to lose to France tonight, then get beaten by Greece on Monday to have any hope of taking the qualification campaign into November.
And even if that unlikely scenario unfolds over the next few days, Kenny’s side would still need to have secured six points by beating Greece and Gibraltar, before going on to defeat the Dutch in Amsterdam next month, while still relying on France to defeat Greece.
Such a scenario could see all three teams finish on 12 points with goal difference coming into play in games between the sides to see who would join France in Germany next year.
Remarkable to even be working out such permutations for a team with three points from five games played, but it at least gives Ireland a greater incentive to go out and prove they are a better team than Greece this time around.
For it was in Greece that this campaign came a cropper following a fine opening display against France in Dublin, and while things were always going to be tough in a group with the World Cup finalists and the Netherlands, an away win in Athens could have set the tone in the quest to separate the big two.
At this stage, all Ireland can realistically do is play for pride, and following two excellent, if ultimately losing performances in Dublin against the French and Dutch, victory tonight would be most welcome to a fervent home support who really wanted the manager to succeed.
Kenny has transformed many aspects of Ireland’s play and has completed the transition, with Shane Duffy the only remaining member of the Euro 2016 squad in Dublin this week, however, results just have not been achieved, and it is where he will ultimately be judged.
Euro 2024 hopes are now looking further and further away, with the disappointing Nations League campaign also set to come home to roost by denying Ireland a play-off in March, barring some more exceptional results – this time in the other groups of the qualification phase.
Six points were expected from the two Greece games, but now it will be Gus Poyet’s side who will be coming to Dublin looking for the clean sweep as they attempt to get their qualification chances back on track with a win.
Greece are a team in the ascendancy, and despite their 3-0 defeat to the Dutch during the September window, they will be looking for a win in Dublin while also hoping that France can topple Ronald Koeman’s side.
Poyet outsmarted the Irish in Athens and his team had the ability to take the lead not once but twice, and then defend resolutely to secure that valuable win, however, they are certainly a more even match for Ireland compared to the quality on display in the games against the group’s top two seeds.
And Greece showed plenty of flaws in that Athens victory as they allowed Ireland back into the contest and lacked belief to go and kill the game against a disjointed visiting side that looked out of sorts from the opening exchanges.
Two years in a row Ireland have struggled with those June fixtures as a result of the large gap for players who mainly finished their campaign six weeks previous, but the Greeks can expect a much different proposition tonight as Ireland are in a much stronger position coming into the game.
Stronger even than last month, emphasised the manager at the press conference, as he sees more and more players enjoying game time, referencing Chiedozie Ogbene’s run of appearqances for Luton in the Premier League, Liam Scales performing admirably in the Champions League for Celtic, and most importantly, the return of Evan Ferguson to the squad having missed Paris and the home game against the Dutch through injury in September.
Ferguson will, no doubt, go right back into the starting line, however, Kenny will surely look at the possibility of playing both Adam Idah and Chiedozie Ogbene following their excellent showing and understanding in that home match with the Dutch.
The manager believes that the opposition are quite settled in their approach with a 4-3-3 formation usually employed by Poyet, and while Kenny will certainly put an emphasis on attack, having urged his team to replicate the high-octane performance that saw them cause so many problems for the Dutch, he will be loathe to get outmanoeuvred by the Greek gaffer once again.
Kenny will still name three in defence but will be very wary of Greece’s ability to utilise the width, while cleverly switching play, which caused the Irish wingbacks problems in Athens.
And as a result, he will encourage his defence to be brave and push that Greek attack back to allow Matt Doherty and the left-sided wing-back opportunity to attack.
Either Scales or Ryan Manning will line out on the left in James McClean and Enda Stevens’ absence, while the manager has also a decision to make in the trio to take the place of John Egan.
Shane Duffy and Nathan Collins should both start with either Andrew Omobamidele or Dara O’Shea slotting in to fill the gap left by the Sheffield United man.
Josh Cullen will anchor the midfield, and Alan Browne has done more than enough in recent games to justify inclusion, which could allow Kenny to opt for a more attacking unit in this must-win encounter.
The manager’s relaxed demeanour at the pre-match press conference may be the sign of a man with absolutely nothing to lose ahead of the last remaining games in the campaign.
And if he can command more high-octane performances from Idah and Ogbene and throw the returning Ferguson into the mix, there could well be some early Hallowe’en fireworks on display at Lansdowne Road tonight.
Watch Republic of Ireland v Greece in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live radio commentary on 2fm's Game On
