Waiting and wondering
The two men met in private, though Mr Kerr was visibly annoyed when he was met at Manchester Airport by TV cameras.
The Irish manager has quickly had to come to terms with the fact that private is a relative term when it comes to football and his every move relating to the high-profile Keane will be closely monitored.
He arrived back in Dublin last night to a posse of reporters without divulging the results of his discussions with Keane.
That was quickly interpreted as an indication that Keane will talk with his club manager, Alex Ferguson, before making public his response in all probability, through Man United's media outlets to Kerr's approach.
Keane was always allowed choose what games he made himself available for when Mick McCarthy was manager of Ireland and it is virtually certain that Kerr will have extended the same privilege to him.
What is certain is that Kerr will have stressed the importance of his return for the European Championship matches away to Georgia and Albania at the end of March if it is his intention to again play for Ireland. Kerr is hoping that he will receive a positive response from Keane before the weekend.
The last thing he wants is to have the speculation continue into next week when he will be attempting to focus attention on the preparations for Ireland's friendly game against Scotland at Hampden Park on Wednesday.
It is expected that an announcement will be made from Old Trafford, probably on the Manchester United website and on MUTV, today.
Meanwhile, Keane believes that Manchester United go into the toughest month of the season driven by the fear of failure.
With nine wins from their last 10 games, the Red Devils have entered February in buoyant mood.
Keane knows they must maintain their impressive form if they are to stand any chance of becoming the first team to land an incredible quadruple trophy haul.
Yet, one look at United's next opponents tells the story of how difficult such a feat will be. Sunday's derby date with Manchester City is followed by a mouthwatering FA Cup crunch against Arsenal, two Champions League encounters with Juventus, the Worthington Cup final against Liverpool and finally a home clash with bitter rivals Leeds.
Even accepting the quality of opposition, the Old Trafford outfit know they cannot afford to make any mistakes, certainly against domestic opposition, if they are to keep their cup-winning dream alive.
"We are in a position where we can't afford any slip-ups," Keane said.
"It puts pressure on us but I think top players seem to enjoy that. They like it when you are on the edge. Maybe we are better when we are walking that tightrope.
"It's not just footballers but you look at any top sports people and you have to rise to the occasion. We respond to that.
"Sometimes if there is a game you don't necessarily have to win you can slacken your concentration levels a bit. But at the moment we are well aware we can't afford to do that at any point."
United's first task is to avenge the 3-1 mauling they received at Maine Road in November.
Keane was absent on that sorry day, still recovering from the hip operation which wiped out the first half of his season.
Such was the tepid nature of United's display that Alex Ferguson abandoned his usual policy of keeping all his criticisms in-house and publicly lambasted his players for their shoddy performance.
However, Keane, does not believe his team-mates should dwell on what went wrong.
"It's history now," he said.
"It wasn't just losing to City that hurt but it was the way we lost.
"There is no point going on about it. It has gone and now we have to move on."
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