Frustrated Keane backs crackdown on time-wasters

ROY KEANE has backed proposals to allow physios to treat players on the pitch while play is in progress.

The idea is being discussed by football’s authorities in a bid to clamp down harder on time-wasting and cheating. Sunderland boss Keane says change should be welcomed if it is for the good of the game.

And he revealed watching recordings of old matches still annoys him when he sees players pass back to goalkeepers: “You have to be open-minded if you think it’s going to improve the game for the fans. Letting physios on wouldn’t worry me too much.

“You have to be prepared to change. You watch some of these old games on television and you see defenders passing back to the goalkeeper all the time. I get annoyed watching that now and that was 20 years ago!

“When they talked about changing that rule, people said: ‘No, the game is fine the way it is.’ But it’s so important now, even though it’s finished a few goalkeepers’ careers because they have to use their feet a bit more, but that’s life. You have to look at making changes to the game.”

Keane has made good use of the innovation of the transfer window, signing four players so far this month, and he confirmed he is hoping to add two more faces to his squad before the deadline.

“We’re looking at bringing in maybe one or two more. It’s strange. We made enquiries about a certain player and the club hasn’t even rang us back. It was a fairly big club as well.”

Keane welcomes back Ireland midfielder Liam Miller and centre-back Stan Varga for tomorrow’s game at Sheffield Wednesday. But Irish striker Daryl Murphy and former Celtic winger Ross Wallace are struggling with injuries.

Keane will go back to his League of Ireland roots next month when he welcomes a 66-strong contingent from Galway United to the Stadium of Light — and United hope it could lead to Keane bringing his team to the western capital for a friendly later this year.

United’s general manager Nick Leeson has already held discussions with Niall Quinn with a view to bringing Sunderland to Galway in the build-up to the 2007-8 season.

“We are currently selling places on our Experience the Irish Invasion trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, February 17, when Sunderland are at home to Southend,” said Leeson.

Some 66 United supporters will pay €650 for a champagne breakfast before flying from Galway to Newcastle, where they will be whisked to the Stadium of Light to meet Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn.

“After the match, we will present the man-of-the-match award and we will also get to meet Roy Keane. We are exploring other ways of tying up with Sunderland, who are keen to develop their Irish fan base. The summer friendly is one thing we are looking at,” added Leeson.