Keane lists plenty of reasons to be cheerful

Standing on the sideline of a training pitch fielding questions from the dreaded meeja will never be high up on Roy Keane’s list of ‘Things I Like To Do’.

But while there were moments at Gannon Park yesterday when the lines of inquiry clearly didn’t impress him one bit, overall Ireland’s Assistant Manager could not help reflecting the stirring Spring weather as he offered a refreshingly upbeat assessment of the national team’s well-being.

Just over a week ago in Nice, Martin O’Neill had expressed concern about the dearth of up and coming Irish talent but even as Keane took that observation on board and was also reminded that the Irish presence is minimal at the top clubs nowadays, the Cork man – though scarcely presenting himself as a Roy of sunshine – insisted there were plenty of reasons accentuate the positive.

“Generally speaking, my personality is probably doom and gloom but I don’t see doom and gloom where we are going and what we are trying to do,” he said.

“I watched three players (for Stoke) on Saturday and they were outstanding. Players who have been criticised in the last few years for Ireland. (Glenn) Whelan. (Marc) Wilson has come on board now. And we know what Jon (Walters) can give. The three players were outstanding against a good Arsenal team. And these players can have a big, big part for Ireland over the next number of years.

“I know people have been criticising Glenn Whelan. I’ve watched Glenn since he was at Sheffield Wednesday. I always liked him, he is a really good player, a good pro. When you’re in the trenches, they’re the people you want with you. So we can be a bit more positive about what we have. Including the media, we’re all quick to write our own chances off. Even the game yesterday (the President’s Cup) – you go to League of Ireland matches and, I’ll tell you what, you give all of these players credit. All good stuff. Really good stuff.

“My priority is, let’s work with the players we have and be positive about it. We’re all quick to knock our own and I’ve been good at that, don’t get me wrong — but there have been positives.

“Andy Reid is playing as well as any player. I know it’s the Championship but he’s dictating a lot of games. He’s missed the last few games for Forest and you can tell by the results. So we are positive. We’re upbeat. It’s usually the other way around.”

In terms of younger talent, huge hope continues to be invested in James McCarthy, who was named the FAI’s Young Player Of The Year for the second year in succession on Sunday. Yet, in recent weeks, two of his self-confessed admirers, Martin O’Neill and John Giles, have both said that the Everton man needs to really start taking games by the scruff of the neck. A fair assessment?

“It probably is but it’s a nice assessment,” Keane replied. “It’s not being critical of the player. I’ve seen him a number of times and that will come with age. I was in the same boat when I was at Forest and you’re surrounded by senior players and then you get a move to United and you’re working with Bryan Robson – and you mature into the job. That’s a process that James will go through.”

“It’s a bit of everything, maturing on and off the pitch. I think James said it himself when he got the award. He’s a quiet lad. We’re all different. If he’s playing week in week out for Everton where they’re challenging near the top of the league, the benefits will be for Ireland as well.

“But don’t be trying to make him something he’s not. That will take a bit of time. He might never be a ranter or a raver but sometimes it’s not about that – it’s about making more demands of his team around him or demanding the ball in certain situations. I’ve only known him two minutes but we like the signs already. All that will come with age. Don’t be impatient about him.”

As a former midfielder himself, the hope, of course, is that Keane can be a source of valuable advice in his dealings with McCarthy.

“Not just with James but maybe with the other midfielders,” he suggested. “They might look at me and look for little tips or whatever. But that’s the coach’s role. It’s the same with Glenn Whelan, all the midfielders, I’d like to think. Because I wouldn’t be guessing from my own experiences. When I came into the squad, the Ronnie Whelans, the Ray Houghtons, they were there to try and help me along. Andy Townsend. And when I went to Man United, Bryan Robson. It could just be little snippets of information and you go ‘oh right, yeah, yeah’.

As he continued preparations for what will be only his third international as assistant manager, Keane reported that he’s deriving considerable job satisfaction from his new role.

“Brilliant,” he enthused. “It’s a focus in my life. Getting back with Ireland, obviously there’s a few changes, working with a few players that I didn’t know previously. In saying that, it’s nice to come across the lads I’ve worked with like Murph (Daryl Murphy), Jon Walters, (David) Meyler and all these lads. There’s a nice mix to the job.

“I know people talk about the frustration of international football and not seeing the players but I kind of like that. I like the role I have at the moment. It suits me down to the ground. I really like working with Martin and Seamus (McDonagh). Even the demands of the job, it’s not necessarily what we do in the few days we have here. There will be demands in terms of commercial stuff, appearances here and there. We’re not daft, we’ve been in the job long enough but I’m really enjoying it.

“I’m a lot more hands-on with the players than maybe previously because obviously as a manager sometimes you get distracted by other stuff — owners and probably a lot more media demands, a lot more travelling, you’re doing scouting. My role is very, very straightforward.

“There’s nothing complicated about it, going to watch players, recommending players, keeping an eye on players, working with them this morning, making sure we’re not doing too much, focusing for Wednesday.

“The demands on football managers now, there are a lot of distractions and do I miss that part of it?

“Probably not but they were all good experiences as well because when I go back into it you think you’ll be wiser for it.

“If you are a club manager you get pulled left, right and centre. But the role here is pretty straightforward. I know what my role is, I know what my focus is and I feel fresh for it.”