Ireland captain Roy Keane reckons that his midfield partner Mark Kinsella deserves the Eircom/FAI Player of the Year award.

Keane atributes Ireland's good form to the Charlton captain and believes it would be justice if he was rewarded with the Player of the Year award.

He said: "I feel Mark is the rightful winner of it. Mark was magnificent in Holland and against Estonia and he should be rewarded for his consistency"

While Keane has a point, he shouldn't underestimate his own input into the new Ireland.

Keane and Kinsella have built a world-beating partnership in the centre of midfield for Mick McCarthy's team which, if there is any justice, should grace the World Cup in two years time.