Keane warns teammates not to slacken off in Premiership

ROY KEANE has warned his Manchester United teammates they will not be allowed to let their Premiership standards slip just because an FA Cup final place has been booked.

The combative Irish midfielder is all set to skipper the Red Devils in their May 22 Millennium Stadium showdown with Nationwide League outfit Millwall.

The Cardiff date has offered a lifeline to United, who feared they would end the season empty-handed after slumping in the Premiership and becoming one of a clutch of big-name fall-guys in the Champions League.

However, Keane has told any members of the Old Trafford squad already looking ahead to the FA Cup tie to refocus their sights on the remaining eight matches of United’s Premiership programme, starting with tomorrow’s clash with Birmingham.

“There is no way we will slacken off now,” said Keane. “The manager, staff and fans wouldn’t wear it.

“It has been a frustrating season for us all and we haven’t given the supporters much to shout about, so now we have to try and build on what we did last week and make sure we are ready for Birmingham.”

If Ferguson decides to continue with his recent policy of only playing Keane in one game a week, the midfielder will miss half of United’s Easter programme, which also includes a clash with relegation-threatened Leicester on Tuesday.

Keane is determined to end the campaign with a winning run and, while Arsenal’s 12-point lead over United may be too much to close, Chelsea are still catchable in second.

“At the start of every season we talk about our aims for the season,” said Keane. “Unfortunately, we have come up short in Europe and have fallen behind in the league.

“At least we have given ourselves a chance to win the FA Cup, but there is a lot of work to be done and some important league games to go yet.”

Millwall captain Kevin Muscat faces FA Cup final heartache after it was confirmed he will miss the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.

Muscat was forced out of the action during Sunday’s semi-final clash with Sunderland following a challenge by George McCartney and now faces the prospect of surgery to discover the full extent of the damage.

The Australian full-back has played a major role for the Lions this season and assistant boss Ray Wilkins admitted his loss was a major blow.