Birmingham centre-back Cunningham stepped down from international football last October in the wake of Ireland’s failure to qualify for this summer’s World Cup finals.

In light of Staunton’s arrival six weeks ago, it initially appeared that Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was favourite to take up the captaincy.

However, Given confirmed at Sunday night’s eircom/FAI International Awards dinner – at which he was named senior player of the year – he would not be leading the side.

Manchester City defender Richard Dunne and Everton midfielder Kevin Kilbane had also been mooted, but it is Keane who is to step into an unaccustomed role.

The Spurs striker is not lacking in experience - with 64 appearances under his belt, he is the third most-capped player in Staunton’s squad behind Kilbane and Given, the latter likely to be named vice-captain.

It is for his goalscoring exploits he has become most renowned, with 25 to his credit. The 25-year-old overhauled Niall Quinn’s 21-goal mark last year.

Staunton, meanwhile, finally returned to the training ground for the first time yesterday following his appointment in mid-January.

It has been an exhilarating time for the 37-year-old, with the only downside being the questions raised about his lack of experience.

Yet for Ireland’s most-capped player, with 102 appearances to his name, being a manager is a role Staunton feels he has been building up to for many years.

“Once I hit 30, I started to think more and more about management,” Staunton said.

“In particular since the World Cup in 2002, I knew my body could only go on so long. At the time the FAI approached me about becoming manager I felt I had six months, maybe another year left in me.

“Before then, in my spare time, I’d been going to matches quite a bit, reserve team football mainly, watching players in the area in which I live.

“Management is one of those things I always felt I would love to give a go, so when this opportunity arose, it was too good to turn down. I was over the moon when I was approached. To even be considered was big, but to be in the position now is enormous.

“I realise I’m very fortunate and privileged to have a chance to do it at the top level for my country.”

While it may be perceived Staunton is being thrown in at the deep end, as far as he is concerned there are no mysteries to the game of football.

If it is as simple as he makes out, then he should do well, adding: “Within football, there’s no great science. Everybody has ideas on systems and shapes, and this and that, but at the end of the day it’s 11 versus 11. You can only put 11 out there.

“Myself and my staff will give the players our ideas, but they are the ones that once they cross the white line must deliver. What I want to see is the energy and drive I had as a player, and which you saw in the teams managed by Bobby [Robson].”