Keane will stay, says Strachan

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan is confident Roy Keane will still be a Hoops player next season.

The 34-year-old midfielder only arrived from Manchester United in January but has since hinted that a long-standing hip injury could force him to retire at the end of the season.

However, Strachan said: “I think I will have Roy next season. He loves it at the club and I can’t see him leaving. “There are players playing at all sorts of ages now. It’s just fitness that counts. Fitness, speed, motivation - if you’ve got that then fine.”

Strachan is also looking to boost his squad. “We will try and bring players in. We will look at our budget at the end of the season but nobody has been asked to leave this club. What we’ve got to try to do is add to the squad.”

Meanwhile, Keane’s testimonial on May 9 at Old Trafford seems certain to be a sell-out after Manchester United confirmed yesterday they have already sold 10,000 tickets for the clash against Celtic. The tickets only went on sale on Monday and the early sales indicate the huge affection still held at Old Trafford for Keane.

Celtic are also confident they will sell their 25,000 allocation.

The match, part of Keane’s severance from United, is likely to net the Corkman in excess of £2.5million in gate receipts, although it is believed he will donate the money to charity.