Has Keano opened the door?
Keane made it clear in Dublin yesterday that the problems he had with certain elements within the FAI seem to be purged under Brian Kerr’s more transparent reign.
“I think things are getting done properly under Brian, something that I didn’t think happened under the previous manager,” he said.
“Do I miss international football? Of course I do. But you have to move on. Whether I return is down to Brian Kerr.”
Kerr’s development of a different Irish team in the past year certainly seems to have impressed the Manchester United skipper. He is in no doubt that should he come back, he will be entering a different set-up to the one he left.
“I have always said I missed international football, even after the fiasco of the World Cup. But it is not as simple as Roy Keane saying he wants to come back. Looking at the matches they have played so far, it might be unfair on the team for me to come back.
“It is down to Brian Kerr and the team. It might upset things if I did come back with Brian trying to build a team. The one thing you are looking for as a manager is stability. It might be a positive thing, but it could easily be a negative thing.”
Keane closed the door on international football on medical grounds, but the past six months has seen a vast improvement in the state of his hip.
He is rested for the less significant Manchester United games, although his absence in those matches only serves to illustrate how he remains the most influential footballer in the Premiership.
“I have been very fortunate in the past year with regard to my hip injury. I am getting a lot more rest now and the injury seems to have settled down,” said Keane, whose performance in the Cup last weekend showed yet again why he is considered among the world’s best footballers of the past decade.
Of course, this yearning for a return might have been sparked by the fight shown by the Irish team on Wednesday night. During the last World Cup qualifying campaign, it was Keane’s battling qualities that dragged Ireland through games they didn’t want to win. Against Brazil, the entire Irish team displayed the same qualities.
“I thought they deserved to win,” said Keane, who would be 34 by the time the next World Cup comes around, in Germany.
“Even though they are in a tough group for the World Cup, there is definitely potential there for the future.
“On another day, Stephen Carr might have scored and Robbie would certainly have scored, but that’s football.”
Eventually, the issue was rested and things turned to matters United. Like tomorrow’s crunch encounter at Stamford Bridge.
“We will be looking for Chelsea to get a positive result. It is a big advantage to give a team like Arsenal but if any team can over-haul that sort of points deficit, I think we can. We did it last year, but it is hard to see Arsenal making the same mistakes again.”
Keane stayed quiet on the row engulfing Old Trafford and board room level but, he did talk about another Corkman, Liam Miller who will join Manchester United in the summer.
“Liam is a player who has the potential to have a great career and I am delighted to see him join Man Utd.”
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