Irish captain Robbie Keane has pulled out of the Irish squad to face Brazil on Tuesday after taking a knock on the knee during yesterday’s Old Firm defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.

Keane, Ireland’s top goalscorer, has been hampered by the same knee in recent weeks, but he played the full game as Celtic lost further ground to their biggest rivals on Sunday.

However, after the game he immediately withdrew form the panel to face the Samba men at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

The much-traveled Anthony Stokes, currently plying his trade at Hibernian, has been drafted into the squad to take his place.