Keane offers to take Smith under his wing

ROY KEANE will advise Alan Smith as he looks to cement a central midfield berth with Manchester United.

Keane is entering the final season of his contract and, although he has yet to decide whether to extend his playing career, at 34, he knows his days are limited.

Alex Ferguson has spent the last two years on a fruitless search for a potential replacement, knowing his talismanic skipper will leave an enormous hole in his squad when he does finally stand down.