No reason to believe Anelka is feeling blue, says Keegan
The Blues have been quick to defend Anelka after reports surfaced in which he condemned club and manager.
Although Anelka has refused to publicly clarify his comments himself, the controversial Frenchman told a City spokesman that he 'adamantly denies saying anything critical about Kevin Keegan or the team'.
For his part, Keegan, whose side will look to end a 14-game winless sequence in their FA Cup replay at Leicester tonight, said there had never been an indication from his £13m striker that he wanted to quit the club and added that Anelka was still paying for his stormy past.
"Nicolas Anelka is an excellent player," said the former England boss.
"He is enjoying his football and scoring goals and I believe he is happy here. He has never knocked on my door and said he doesn't like it.
"All the time we have to live with his past and the things that have happened to him. Dealing with it doesn't bother me it is my job."
Anelka's chequered past includes high-profile fall-outs with Arsenal and Real Madrid, while an expected contract with Liverpool failed to materialise two years ago after an apparent disagreement with Houllier.
The 25-year-old also previously claimed he would never play for his country again, although he has since made his peace with French national coach Jacques Santini.
While Anelka's attitude has been questioned recently, mainly because of his reluctance to express any pleasure on the field even when he scores City could ill-afford to be without their one truly international class player as they try to battle out of their current crisis.
Although Icelandic international Arni Gautur Arason has impressed during the early stages of a trial period with the Blues, Keegan will be forced to field young Dane Kevin Ellegaard in goal at the Walkers Stadium because the 28-year-old newcomer is ineligible.
It may be Ellegaard's last chance to prove he is a worthy successor to shoulder-injury victim David Seaman as Keegan fully intends having another keeper in his squad for Saturday's vital Premiership encounter with Blackburn.
"We have two or three options lined up," revealed the City boss.
"David Seaman is still in a lot of pain, so we can't put an exact time on his comeback, which means we have to try and bring someone else in.
"We already know Arni has ability and experience but we want to see if we can get him fit because he hasn't played for seven weeks. Realistically he won't play against Blackburn, so if we can't get another keeper on board we will give Kevin another chance.
"If you go back through the years there are plenty of young lads who have been given a chance they didn't expect and seized it with both hands.
"But I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't get some cover in and I still hope to achieve that."
Keegan confirmed he did not have enough cash to bring in any outfield players, which rules out a bid for Manchester United's transfer-listed midfielder Nicky Butt.
It means he will head into the second half of the season with virtually the same squad that, by his own admission, has underperformed so far.
"With the players I have here, I don't think it was foolish to say we could finish in the top six this season," he said.
"Maybe people might look back and say it now but there is still plenty of football to be played and a lot of points to be won."
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