Roy Keane challenges Shane Long to 'look in the mirror' and do whatever he can to find some form

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Roy Keane has challenged Shane Long to 'look in the mirror' to ensure he racks up more minutes on the pitch and more goals at club level.

The 17-goal Republic of Ireland striker is set to lead the line in Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Georgia after playing less than an hour of competitive football this season.

'It doesn't seem to be happening for Shane at Southampton at the moment but would that mean he'd be reluctant about starting on Saturday? Obviously not,' said Keane on Tuesday.

Shane Long has fallen out of favour at Southampton but has been called up for Ireland

'I'm sure if he [Long] was sitting here he'd say he'd like to have got a lot more games under his belt and certainly more goals,' added the Ireland assistant manager.

'I don't know his stats at Southampton but you ask any striker and it's all about getting minutes on the pitch and putting the ball in the back of the net, and he's not been doing that regularly enough.'

'I'd love to know how many games he started and finished over the last five or six years,' added Keane, who believes Long is in control of his own destiny.

Assistant manager Roy Keane wants Long to start finding some form once again

'As much as we look at managers, I always say the player's got to look at himself. Look at the man in the mirror,' said Keane.

'Is he [Long] doing enough at club level in terms of training? I don't know. But when we have him for the week, he's fine.

'Sometimes players turn up and do look as if they are short of minutes under the belts. And maybe that can happen with Shane sometimes.

'But we kind of forget about that a little bit on Saturday and if he starts I'm sure he'll do well for us.'

Keane believes Jon Walters is on course to win his 50th Ireland cap in Tbilisi. The 34-year-old striker has been working with the Irish physio Tony McCarthy on his rehab as he steps up his recovery from an ankle problem.

'Once Jon is on that plane, I'd be pretty confident that he'll be available for selection unless there's any sort of major setback tomorrow,' said Keane who is demanding Ireland's shot-shy midfielders find their shooting boots on Saturday.

Apart from James McClean (nine goals), and Robbie Brady (six), the midfield goals return is poor.

Aiden McGeady has just three in 90 appearances, Wes Hoolahan three in 40, Glenn Whelan two in 81, while David Meyler (19 caps) and Harry Arter (six) have yet to score.

'If you are a midfield player, be that Meyler, McGeady or McClean, you should have goals in the locker, five or six or seven every season, whether that's in the Premiership or international level,' said Keane.

'I probably didn't score enough myself at international level but if you are a midfield player contributing goals, it has a huge effect on the team,' he added.

Scott Hogan should be available for final round of qualifiers next month while another Championship striker, Will Keane of Hull City, has indicated his eagerness to declare.

Having options in attack is a plus but Keane laments the shortage of top-flight players available to the management team.

'I still think too many of our players are playing in the Championship. I'd like to be going to Premier League games a bit more.'

Keane said speculation earlier this month linking him with the Israeli national team post had 'no truth in it from my angle.'

The Corkman signed a deal with the FAI last September to remain on in his current role until after the 2018 World Cup.