Roy rules out Ireland return

ROY KEANE has virtually ruled out a return to the Republic of Ireland team even though he has nothing but admiration for manager Brian Kerr.

The Manchester United captain claims he made his decision on medical grounds after a hip operation last year.

He quit the international stage following an on-going dispute with Kerr's predecessor Mick McCarthy which came to a head at the 2002 World Cup. Keane was critical about the way they prepared for matches and especially the training facilities.

However, after chatting to his Old Trafford team-mate, Ireland defender John O'Shea, he feels the national side are moving in the right direction.

Keane said: "When Brian took over the temptation was to go back because I knew things would be done properly.

"But after getting medical advice I feel I have made the right decision.

"Brian has come in and done a very good job but they always seemed to be playing catch-up after losing the first two games of the Euro 2004 qualifiers.

"The best teams always qualify and Switzerland and Russia deserved to go through on merit.

"Yeah, I watch some of the games and I think I could definitely do a job for the team.

"Then again there are one or two players who I wouldn't fancy playing with because of what happened before.

"Because I feel okay in myself now it doesn't mean I have forgotten what the surgeon told me about how important it is to rest my hip.

"John O'Shea was away for 10 days recently. Meanwhile, I was doing my stretching, doing my weights and getting plenty of rest. All that helps me in the long run.

"From what I hear they are definitely more professional. John tells me they are getting looked after. So at least something good came out of what happened."

Keane admits he has cleaned up his act on the pitch.

"It's about bloody time," he told Manchester United Magazine.

"There have been bookings, sendings-off, not to mention the fines which are a killer.

"That's not to say it won't happen again. Eventually all these things come together and you think 'What's the point?' I was really frustrated with the referee at Chelsea (where United conceded a penalty). Okay I argued my case but compare the way I went about it to the penalty against Middlesbrough a few years ago.

"Then I went chasing after the referee. I was a bit crazy. Hopefully I have more control now."

Keane is eager to move into coaching when he retires and intends getting his badges while still playing.

"I definitely see myself as a manager eventually. It is getting much stricter and there are lots of qualifications.

"I will need a UEFA B and A licence and the new pro managers' licence before I can even think about getting a job.

"It is important to have these things in place when you retire. The big mistake many players make is they retire at 35 without their coaching badges.

"It takes two or three years and your face falls out of the picture.

"With the right qualifications I can go for a job straight away if I want to. I would like to think further down the line I could be a good manager."

Senior figures within the Irish set-up have also dismissed talk of Keane returning to the international fold. "I think people were just looking to sell some newspapers," said one source. "They had this big headline and in the very first sentence, Roy Keane said he wouldn't be returning to international football. The speculation is nonsense."

While the Republic of Ireland assistant manager Chris Hughton told Newstalk 106FM: "it's not a distraction. We deal with things like this on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis. All these things are there to be dealt with, and it's something that will be dealt with at the appropriate time."

Keane though is not the only Republic of Ireland midfielder making headlines.

Tottenham caretaker boss David Pleat has revealed Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid as his latest transfer target as he attempts to relieve the relegation pressure building around his squad.

Spurs have already tied up the signature of midfielder Michael Brown from Sheffield United for a fee of about stg£500,000 when the transfer window opens on New Year's Day.

However, Pleat has now revealed that Reid is another of his January targets as he looks to escape the relegation zone.

Pleat said: "He is a player we are very much aware of and rate very highly."

Tottenham have reportedly lodged an offer for 21-year-old Reid of stg£2.5million plus performance

related bonuses.

However, Forest could try to hold out for a larger offer as Spurs are not the only club interested in a versatile midfielder who has already scored 10 times this season.

Reid was, meanwhile, still unaware of Tottenham's apparent interest and although he admitted being "flattered" by it, he insisted that he is happy at Forest.

"It's a situation I don't know anything about.

"Of course, I am flattered. It's nice and shows I am doing something right, but at the moment Forest is all I need to worry about. All I can say is that I am happy at Forest. I am a Forest player."

Reid's career has flourished under Forest boss Paul Hart and he won his first full cap for the Republic in their recent friendly against Canada.

He is understood to have signed a new three-year deal last summer but Spurs are hoping Forest will be tempted to sell despite being fifth from bottom of the First Division.