Butt is one of the best in England, says Keane

MANCHESTER UNITED skipper Roy Keane has hailed want-away team-mate Nicky Butt as “one of the best midfielders in England”.

Butt had a transfer request granted by United boss Alex Ferguson this week after finding his path to the first team blocked by the summer arrivals of Kleberson and Cristiano Ronaldo, plus the emergence of Darren Fletcher from the Old Trafford youth ranks.

A host of Premiership sides, including Newcastle, Birmingham and Tottenham have already been linked with the 28-year-old England international, who is looking to safeguard his place in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad for this summer’s European Championships.