Roy backs Roy to light up Stadium

ROY KEANE has backed Roy O’Donovan to do well at the Stadium of Light after watching the former Cork City striker take his first steps in his Sunderland career.

“It took Roy about ten minutes to get up to the pace in training the other day, no problem,” said Keane. “Roy was in the squad for Saturday (against Spurs), as was Stern John, but they didn’t make the 16.

“But there’s every chance they will be involved for Wednesday (against Birmingham). Roy has obviously played a lot of games for Cork City this year and, like all good players with the right character, he already looks like he’s been here a while. Roy will do well for us.”

O’Donovan, who admits that he has had a “whirlwind” first few days since arriving on Wearside last Thursday, has been equally impressed by his early encounters with Keane.

“He has been very straightforward and genuine,” said the striker. “He said it’s not a case of me coming to sit in the reserves. He said if I really want to be in the first team I have to push myself in there and he’s not going to hold me back if he thinks I’m doing well. And that’s very positive for me.

“But I know there’s a lot of hard work ahead of me. From League of Ireland to here is a step up. But it’s a challenge I’m relishing.”

O’ Donovan said the passion of the locals at Saturday’s game reminded him of home. “It was brilliant. There were grown men weeping when Michael Chopra scored the winner. The fans here love their football, they love their sport. It’s very similar to Cork.”

One downer for O’ Donovan was that his old club had suffered another eircom League defeat on Friday night.

“But they’ve still got good players there and Damien and Hilly (Dave Hill) have been very good for the club,” he said. “They can only move forward, especially with the money they’ve got from the transfer.”