Unrepentant Roy leads United to win

MANCHESTER UNITED skipper Roy Keane insists he has not been affected by the row which has erupted over his controversial autobiography.

The 31-year-old Cork star led United to a 1-0 opening day win over West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday, shrugging off the threat of legal action from Manchester City and their Norwegian midfielder Alf Inge Haaland.

Last week, in the serialisation of his autobiography, Keane claimed he had deliberately set out to injure Haaland in April last year as retribution for the Norwegian accusing him of feigning injury during a meeting with his previous club Leeds.

Haaland has not completed a full match since that infamous Manchester derby and faces the threat of being forced to quit the game with knee injury which he claims suffered more damage as a result of Keane's reckless tackle, even though he was caught on the other leg.

Keane, who has received the backing of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, remains unrepentant and insists he has only told the truth.

''It wasn't hard to concentrate, not one bit,'' he said.

''I have a perfectly clear frame of mind. I try to tell the truth and that is what I have done. I am not bothered about the headlines, I suggest you read the book.''

It is the second time in a matter of weeks Keane has made the front pages, following his row and subsequent walk-out from the Irish World Cup squad.

Ironically, he believes the summer rest will help him get through another Premiership campaign.

''I feel better for the rest both mentally and physically. Hopefully I will see the benefit later on in the year.''

Keane was given a more advanced role on Saturday with Ferguson deploying a diamond formation in midfield. It should have brought the Irishman a first-half opener but he fluffed one header from a good position, then saw goalkeeper Russell Hoult save a second flying effort from David Beckham's cross.

''I was given a licence to get forward but I missed a great chance in the first half. I should have scored,'' said Keane.

''But we got the win, which after the defeat in Hungary on Wednesday, was the most important thing.''

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson was able to reflect on a double dose of good news after a typically turbulent week at Old Trafford.

Apart from celebrating three welcome points courtesy of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's late winner, the United chief was able to confirm that Rio

Ferdinand is likely to come into contention for Friday's trip to Chelsea after recovering from his ankle injury.

The return of the world's most expensive defender will help ease a crippling defensive crisis which almost saw 19-year-old Paul Tierney pitched into Saturday's win over the 10-man Baggies even though he has not made a single senior appearance for the club.

Ferdinand watched the game from the stands alongside fellow England international Gary Neville three weeks away from a return following his broken foot and saw the home team squander a succession of chances until Solskjaer stroked in the winner from Paul Scholes' pass 11 minutes from time.

''I started with five in midfield because I wanted to get control in that area, but I finished with 2-6-2, or something like that anyway,'' smiled Ferguson.

''I thought it was worth the risk but if West Brom continue to play like that away from home, some people are going to get a shock. They are out there to survive and they made it very hard for us.''

As it was, Solskjaer struck his 100th goal for the Old Trafford club, gaining some reward for a series of missed chances and ending the defiance of goalkeeper Hoult.

''I was waiting for the flag because I thought I was offside,'' admitted Solsjkaer. ''They made it difficult for us but we didn't grind out enough results in situations like that last year, so it's pretty pleasing to get the three points.

''Scoring 100 goals doesn't mean that much. I just like scoring and to get the winner is even better.''

Meanwhile, Rennes' president Emmanuel Cueff has criticised United's offer for Julien Escude as 'almost insulting' and urged the young defender to commit his immediate future to the club.

United are believed to have offered Rennes £2million for the 23-year-old while the French club rate him nearer the £5million bracket.