Roy Keane is confident that Robbie Keane will be available for Ireland's crucial Euro 2016 qualifier on Thursday night with Germany - despite the birth of his second child on Monday.

Robbie Keane was on his way to Dublin on Tuesday following the birth of his second son overnight.

The 35-year-old striker and his wife Claudine, who have six-year-old son Robert Jr, announced the news in a statement on his Facebook page.

At today's press briefingm Keane was asked by RTÉ correspondent Tony O'Donoghue if the striker would be available for Thursday night.

"Why wouldn't he be?" said Keane."He didn't have the baby did he? Unless he's breastfeeding he should be alright."

Robbie Keane was part of the team which secured a 1-1 draw with the world champions courtesy of John O'Shea's injury-time strike in Gelsenkirchen in October last year, and a repeat at the Aviva could have a major say in whether or not they make it to the finals in France next summer.

That result came amid an uncharacteristically slow start to the campaign by Joachim Low's men, who have since put together a run of five successive qualifier victories.

However, while former Manchester United captain Keane admits they will be a different proposition this time around, he is confident Ireland have improved too.

He said: "I think we are a stronger team. Like you'd expect with any campaign, teams improve. We were still new to the job at the time and, yes, I think we are a better team.

"But certainly Germany's form, as you would have expected - they were a bit sluggish at the start, but with all the qualities they have it was only a matter of time before they started winning matches and topped the group, no doubt.

"But we will be ready."

Ireland go into an intensely difficult double-header - they face second-placed Poland in Warsaw on Sunday evening in their final game - knowing victory in just one of those matches will guarantee at least a third-place finish and a play-off spot.

However, they are equally aware that should Scotland, who currently trail them by four points, beat both the Poles and Gibraltar, even creditable draws against the Germans and in Warsaw will see them miss out.

O'Neill's number two said: "I've said it before, this is what the players and this is what we are in the game for. It's a big game, we are playing quality opposition. This is what it's all about."