Robbie Keane played for Spurs at Bolton on Monday night

Robbie Keane looks likely to be the latest withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland for the Euro 2004 qualifier in Georgia because of the death of his father.

The Tottenham striker's father Robert died late on Monday evening after a long battle against cancer.

Keane has not yet officially withdrawn from the Irish squad but a Football Association of Ireland official said on Tuesday morning that it was "safe to assume" that the player would not travel to Georgia.

The Dubliner was set to make his international return after several weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury which forced him to miss Brian Kerr's opening game against Scotland.

A statement released by Keane on Tuesday morning said his father had been "inspirational in every part of my life".

"He fought a very brave and long fight against cancer, but always remained in good spirits," said Keane.

"I considered him more like a brother to me than a father.

"It fills me with pride to remember that the last match he saw me play in was against Everton when I was lucky enough to score a hat-trick.

Irish boss Brian Kerr has lost several players

"I would be very grateful if my family and I could be allowed our privacy to grieve for a wonderful man."

Brian Kerr's Irish squad has already been hit by a number of withdrawals.

Rotherham striker Alan Lee has been added to the panel along with Leeds' Stephen McPhail and Manchester City defender Richard Dunne for the games in Georgia and Albania.

The call-ups became necessary after Leeds defender Ian Harte joined injured trio Clinton Morrison, Jason McAteer and Gary Kelly on the absentee list.

Harte has withdrawn from the Irish squad because his wife has given birth to the couple's first child.

Kerr has already called up Sheffield Wednesday's Alan Quinn.

Lee, who has played for the Irish U21s, has scored 14 goals for Rotherham in Division One of the Nationwide League.

Finnan MRI scan

He was brought up in Dublin and played rugby alongside Brian O'Driscoll at Blackrock College before moving to England.

McPhail and Dunne were in Kerr's squad for his opening game against Scotland but a lack of recent first team football led to them being left out of the original squad for the Georgia and Albania contests.

Kerr also may have to plan without John O'Shea and Steve Finnan who are troubled by hamstring and rib injuries.

Finnan will go for an MRI scan on Tuesday.