CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Keane declared that he has fully returned after scoring a hat trick in the LA Galaxy's US Open Cup romp Wednesday night over amateurs PSA Elite, and then noted that time on the field provides solace after the tragic deaths of two cousins last week in Ireland.
Keane started and played 70 minutes in the Galaxy's 6-1 triumph in the fourth round of the annual competition, assisting Gyasi Zardes' go-ahead goal before tallying in the 29th, 53rd and 70th minutes.
“I'm back. I'm back,” he said afterward. “So it's no more 45 minutes and 70 minutes. I'm back, and this is as important as playing the 70 minutes today.”
Keane said he planned to play the full 90 when the Philadelphia Union visit the Galaxy on Saturday night at StubHub Center (10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
He missed seven weeks with a groin injury suffered in early April and had made three league appearances since returning to the field -- 35 minutes in a May 22 win over Houston, 45 in a victory five days later over Real Salt Lake, and an unexpected full 90 in the June 6 home loss to Vancouver -- before heading home to Ireland for last weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.
His cousins Alan and Stephen Harris died last Wednesday after they were overcome by fumes while clearing pipes in a sewage pit at a gated estate outside of Dublin. Alan Harris, 45, was overcome by fumes, according to reports, and Stephen, 34, fell unconscious trying to save his brother. He died two days later.
Keane remained with Ireland's national team after the incident and played a little more than 15 minutes off the bench in a 1-1 draw Saturday.
“When you're playing football, you forget about everything, no matter what problems you have in your life,” he said after the Open Cup match. “When you're on that field, you're just focusing on playing football. It's been a tough couple of weeks, but the most important thing is just to carry on, continue to play and do the best you can for the team.
“Of course, you're always thinking about the people back home, your family and stuff like that, and you will continue to do that. But for me, it's thinking about them, but focusing also on doing my job.”
The Galaxy captain “just happened to be home with the Irish team” when the tragedy occurred.
“I got to see my auntie and cousins, my mother,” he said. “I was there. I just happened to be there. I really don't want to talk too much about it.”
Keane said the time he received against PSA Elite would “stand me in good stead going forward.”
“You can do all the training that you want, but the most important thing is playing games, getting the match fitness, and it was a perfect game for me to do that ...,” he added. “I enjoy playing two or three games a week. I've been used to it all my career.”
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena acknowledged he had concerns about leaving Keane on the field so long.
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“He needs to play,” Arena said. “He only played 15 minutes with Ireland on Saturday. He was gone for a week, so he's a little bit behind, and we just got to push the minutes on him. They weren't hard minutes tonight, but they're still good minutes to push him forward.”
His goals – the first a finish from an Ignacio Maganto header after a Sebastian Lletget ball over the top, the last two headers from a Jose Villarreal free kick and then a Lletget cross from the byline – were the first he'd scored since a March 21 draw with Houston.
“As a striker, it's always important to score goals,” Keane said. “Ultimately, you're judged on scoring, no matter what people say. You can do what you want for the team, and hard work, but the stats people look at goals and assists, and since I've been here, I've done that, and I've done it well. ...
“Unfortunately, I was out too long from what I'm used to, so nice to be back. And feeling good. I feel a lot better after playing this 70 minutes, and, hopefully, continue now to score more goals and certainly play longer now and, touch wood, stay away from injuries.”
