Keane attack ‘could lift United’

ROY KEANE’S blistering attack on his underperforming Manchester United colleagues could reap rich rewards in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle, according to Darren Fletcher.

The 21-year-old Scottish international insists when Keane speaks the players listen.

The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 Premiership defeat by rock-bottom Norwich on Saturday and Keane made no secret of his anger. But Fletcher insisted such vocal criticism is not a bad thing.

“The manager (Alex Ferguson) and the captain are the two most important people you look to,” Fletcher said.

“If he can get an extra bit out of us for Sunday, which he is obviously trying to do, then that is great.

“You learn from players like Keane and how they deal with situations and how they prepare for games.

“That what I have done since I coming into the first team squad.”

United are reeling from the defeat at Norwich and Keane was scathing in his criticism of the performance and the attitude in the dressing room.

He said: “We can all make excuses but people are probably sick of excuses. Generally our performances have been very poor. They haven’t been good enough.”