Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill suspected Robbie Keane's record breaking international career was over when he joined LA Galaxy, but he now accepts that the 34-year-old icon remains his most potent goal-scoring weapon.
O'Neill was in charge at Premier League side Sunderland when Keane swapped Tottenham for California in the summer of 2011, with many joining O'Neill in concluding Ireland's all-time record scorer had opted to bring down the curtain on his record breaking international career as he left the Premier League behind.
Yet more than three and a half years later, the tactician now charged with the task of guiding the Irish national team into the Euro 2016 finals has admitted he was wrong to write off the Dubliner whose appetite to play for his country is not waning almost 17 years into his international career.
Keane was dropped for the vital qualifying game against Scotland back in November, but a blunt Ireland lost that game 1-0 and O'Neill looks set to recall his most experienced outfield player for the clash against Poland in Dublin later this month.
"When he went to America, there was a feeling that Robbie may have run his course with Ireland," O'Neill said of last season's MLS MVP. "Looking from a distance and without giving it any fantastic consideration at the time, I thought maybe that was it for him at international level.
"He considered his Premier League days to be over and maybe his Republic of Ireland career as well, but then he said he wanted to carry on playing for his country and since I have been in this job and watching him training, his enthusiasm is there is abundance.
"He is not just doing this to put on a show for myself or anyone else, I believe he genuinely has a desire to continue playing for Ireland and his performances show that his passion to play is as strong as ever.
"Can Robbie play up front on his own at the age of 34? It might even be difficult for a 28-year-old Robbie to play that role and as the years go on it gets harder, but he still has so much to offer, he really does.
"Look at the list of players in the squad there and the number 65 next to Robbie's name in his goal tally column says all you need to know. To score that many goals is remarkable and until we find someone who can step up and take that role in the side, Robbie has a big role to play for us."