‘Ideal’ debut for Roy, says Macari

FORMER Celtic manager Lou Macari does not believe an injury to midfielder Stilian Petrov has neatly solved a selection dilemma for current Hoops boss, Gordon Strachan.

The Bulgarian international has been ruled out for up to three weeks with a hamstring problem sustained in the win at Hearts on New Year’s Day.

However, the absence of the 26-year-old has opened up a midfield berth for Roy Keane to make his debut in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup third-round tie at Clyde on Sunday.

When the ex-Manchester United man was officially unveiled at Celtic Park before Christmas, there was a question mark over his potential position in the team for his first game - against the Bully Wee.

And the 34-year-old had looked set to replace Bobo Balde in central defence at Broadwood with the Guinea international away on African Nations Cup duty.

But, when Petrov picked up his hamstring injury, a tricky situation for Strachan appeared to be solved.

However, Macari, who played for both United and Celtic, believes the cup-tie against the Bell’s First Division side is the ‘ideal’ debut for Keane.

Macari said: “Gordon would have pencilled Roy in for this game anyway, regardless of circumstances.

“Whether Celtic did or did not have injuries, he would have played.

“It is an ideal game for him to find his feet as a Celtic player.

“As for playing at the back, I have never considered him to be a defender.

“Roy is a midfielder and he always will be.

“He has played at the back before in emergencies, but he is not a centre-half.”

But Macari believes Keane will soon discover one fundamental difference between playing in Scotland and playing for Manchester United - the quality of the opposition.

He added: “No disrespect to Scottish football, but the teams are not as strong as they are in the Premiership.

“There are a lot of teams in the Premiership who can give anybody a game, but Roy will find there are not so many in the SPL who will do the same to Celtic and Rangers.

“He will not be tested week-in, week-out, as he would be in the Premiership and that’s something he won’t be used to.

“That will be the main difference.”

Nevertheless, Macari is confident the Irishman will have no problems with self-motivation.

Keane left Old Trafford by mutual consent in November after he reportedly criticised a number of United players in an interview with MUTV which was withdrawn from broadcast.

His words prompted a fall-out with United manager Alex Ferguson which culminated in his departure from the club. But the ex-Celtic and United midfielder believes Keane’s professionalism will be more than enough to ensure the 34-year-old remains focused.

Macari said: “There will be no problems at all for Roy being motivated for games. He is a professional and wants things done properly.

“Apparently, he had a go at the young boys at Old Trafford before he left and that is because he wants to be successful.

“And, because he wants to be successful, he went to Celtic. He still wants to win things.”

Meanwhile Celtic striker Chris Sutton is exercising his right to speak to other clubs, according to his agent Tony McGill.

Portsmouth and Everton have both been linked with the 32-year-old whose contract at Celtic Park runs out at the end of the season. McGill insists he is simply carrying out his normal duties on behalf of his client.

“Chris has a right to speak to other clubs and I’m travelling round speaking to interested clubs at the moment.

“I’m just doing my job and if a club calls me then I will hear what they have to say. I won’t say which clubs are in the frame but there are more than two clubs interested and they are all in the Premiership.

“They are a mixture of top clubs, middle-ranking clubs and others.

“I really don’t know what will happen at the moment, there has nothing been decided either way. Chris could sign a pre-contract at one club and play out the rest of his contract at Celtic. That’s within the FIFA rules and we haven’t ruled that possibility out.

“But you never know what can happen, things change so quickly in football.”

McGill jokingly summed up the extent of the interest in Sutton - “the way things are going at the moment I wouldn’t be surprised if Alex McLeish game me a call - well, to be honest, I would.”