Kinnear: Keane a United boss in waiting

JOE KINNEAR is convinced that Roy Keane’s long-term future lies as manager of Manchester United or the Republic of Ireland.

Newcastle’s interim manager said: “Without being rude to Sunderland, I would say he’s a Manchester United manager in waiting.

“You look at the job he’s done. If he keeps Sunderland in the Premier League and if he was to get them in the top 10 maybe, and pick up a trophy along the way, that would put him right up there.

“The experience he’s going to get from where he is now will stand him in good stead for the next step. I’m not saying he will be leaving there, but I would think, in a fair few years from now, he would be an ideal Man United manager, if not the Irish national manager.’’

Kinnear feels that Keane’s mentor at Nottingham Forest, Brian Clough, was a “father figure’’ who has influenced the way the Corkman goes about his managerial business.

Kinnear added: “I think he’s done the right thing learning his trade where he is. He won’t have any problem dealing with players. They could be the best players in the world and they would still be looking up to him.

“I think Cloughie would have been more or less like his father. I think Cloughie was a father figure.