Keane relieved at Rio’s return

MANCHESTER UNITED skipper Roy Keane has admitted that Rio Ferdinand’s eight- month ban had a negative effect on the Old Trafford outfit.

Ferdinand returned to the Red Devils starting line-up on Monday night after serving the suspension imposed following his missed drugs test last September.

United boss Alex Ferguson reunited Ferdinand with Mikael Silvestre at the heart of his rearguard, a partnership Keane reckons could become as effective as that of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister in the Cork man’s early years at the club.