Roy return would thrill fans

As Manchester United’s players yesterday jogged through their first training session in the aftermath of David Moyes’ sacking under the tuition of some familiar faces, the sceptre of another — one Roy Maurice Keane — was hovering over the Carrington training ground.

Whether or not they played alongside the Irishman prior to his controversial Old Trafford exit in 2005, the current crop was squarely blamed by the former club captain on Tuesday night for the exit earlier that morning of Moyes.

That Keane may become part of the rescue remedy United’s board have in mind through his placement on the managerial ticket at the request of favourite Louis van Gaal, will no doubt have some of them fearing the worst, at a time their futures at the club are in jeopardy anyway.

The same was said, however, last November when the Corkman accepted Martin O’Neill’s invitation to work alongside him on a Irish squad he’d been heavily critical of for their failings at Euro 2012 and the subsequent World Cup qualifying campaign. Seven months on and the earth hasn’t shifted off its axis, with most of the players from the previous regime remaining intact.

What’s different about this mission, should Van Gaal choose it and bring his number one target, prodigal son Keane, back to United, is the enemy of time.

Missing out on Champions League qualification once — at a cost of €50m — for a club of United’s scale is tolerable; a second time would be catastrophic.

Therein is the overriding factor during this managerial recruitment hunt.

Everything else in the minds of the Glazer family is peripheral — including any hang-up Alex Ferguson has about the comeback of his nemesis Keane.

Unlike this time 12 months ago, the vacancy puts the desirable candidate in a position of strength. Van Gaal will set the parameters. If Keane is his man — and sources in Holland confirm so — no one can tell him otherwise without it becoming a deal breaker.

Ryan Giggs won’t be shunted completely to the margins but the fact he’ll be picking a starting team for the first time at any level in his 40 years for Saturday’s game against Norwich City counts against him.

There was a nostalgic ring to the ‘Class of ’92’ brigade of Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt taking training yesterday, yet that’s anathema to the incoming Dutchman.

As a club legend like Karl-Heinz Rummenigge discovered during Van Gaal’s time at Bayern Munich, work isn’t about making friends or having statues erected in his honour.

Think of successful Dutch managers and their nomadic streak sticks out a mile.

Van Gaal operates to the same creed as compatriots Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat in moving on once the project at hand is complete. And here is where the like-minded Keane fits into his plan.

While the Dutchman possesses the contacts on the continent to source new blood in the summer and the tactical nous for combat next season, Keane has, as a foil, the affinity with Manchester United and motivation to address past wrongs.

Reaction throughout the course of yesterday to Keane’s possible return was overwhelmingly positive, especially on United fans’ message boards, and not just because of his stinging criticism of the players on television the previous night.

Keane’s problems with United rest solely with Ferguson, rather than any other facet of the club. So much so that he purchased two season tickets and attends matches on a regular basis with his son.

His dislike for Ferguson is undisguised. On an ITV documentary last December, he even claimed that the former manager was interfering during the reign of his successor.

In shocking the Irish public around the same time by going on the FAI’s payroll, though, Keane proved he doesn’t have to like the personalities involved to work towards a shared cause.

Martin O’Neill refused to comment on the possibility of losing his right-hand man when approached at a pitch-opening in Dublin yesterday, saying: “I don’t know anything about it, I really don’t,” as he did his best to brush off the interrogator’s question.

And the Ireland manager was only telling the truth. There has been no contact between Van Gaal and Keane; only a veteran with a vision on how to tool up for his latest salvage job.

Of course, there would be no legislating for the chance of Keane shunning him.

The Dutchman would be wise to factor it in, as the most famous footballer ever to wear the Irish jersey knows how much of a furore can arise from turning your back on your own country.