Keane ‘does not need ankle surgery’

MANCHESTER UNITED have insisted that stories claiming Roy Keane needs surgery on an ankle injury are incorrect.

An English newspaper yesterday claimed that Keane would go into hospital for an operation following Sunday’s top-of-the-Premiership clash with Arsenal, and would be out for six weeks.

However, the club have told ManUtd.com that the reports are not true, stating that “Roy Keane is not set to go under the knife.”

The United skipper is expected to start the showdown with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

The newspaper story had claimed Keane would then go under the knife to cure the injury that he picked up against Charlton earlier this month.

But a statement on the club’s website said: “United have insisted that the stories in Thursday’s newspapers regarding Roy Keane are not correct. Roy is not set to go under the knife.”

Keane was left on the bench for United’s Champions League win over Panathinaikos on Tuesday, with manager Alex Ferguson eager to keep him rested for the clash with the Gunners.

With Paul Scholes sidelined with a hernia problem, Ferguson will be desperate for Keane to line up in the centre of midfield as United look to move to the top of the Premiership.

Keane has struggled with a series of injuries in recent years, with a hip injury keeping him out for four months last season and sparking talk he could soon be set to hang up his boots.