‘Volcanic’ Keane adds fire to the mix at Villa
The defender believes the Villa assistant has added fire to the dressing room after his summer arrival. Villa are second in the Premier League and host Arsenal tomorrow after opening their campaign with four unbeaten games. And right-back Hutton, who signed a three-year deal at the club this week, said Keane’s famous passion is vital.
“He can be occasionally volcanic; is that threat useful? I think so, it keeps you on your toes, but you want to perform for yourself,” he said.
“You know he’ll give you the shot you need to perform and spur you on, it’s not a negative thing.
“You just have to look at his career, if there’s anything you need to ask he’s the man to go to. Just to have a man like that in your corner is unbelievable.
“He’s passionate about the game, so if anyone needs to say anything about the game he’s the man to do it.”
Former Manchester United midfielder Keane arrived in July as Paul Lambert’s assistant and has also continued in his role as Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland No.2.
Lambert and Keane had not previously worked together but have been long-term friends and Hutton believes that has helped them to quickly develop a close relationship.
“They have worked unbelievably well together – everything has worked and clicked – I don’t see why we can’t go from strength to strength.
“Roy’s done brilliantly for everyone – he’s lifted the standard in training and he’ll let you know if that standard drops.
“Though there’s no doubt who’s number one. Everyone knows who the manager is and no one has ever questioned that.”
Keane’s instant impact at Villa has also been hailed by manager Lambert who admits that he knew his decision to bring in the Republic of Ireland number two this summer “raised a few eyebrows”.
“People could not see the logic in the appointment. But I knew in my gut feeling that it would work,” he said.
“He has been great for me as an individual and great around the players and staff. He likes a laugh and is not the big bad guy.
“I know he is someone I know I can rely on. To be honest I never had any doubts as he was my first port of call.
“Like everyone he has made a big contribution to make the team successful. They all want the same objective. It never crossed my mind that it was a brave thing to bring in Roy or that it was a dangerous move.
“I knew that he has a lot of football knowledge and that his reputation had been unfairly tarnished. He is far too good to be a TV pundit and to get back into the game was great. You look back at his football career and is one of the best, if not the best, midfield player to have come into this country.
“He was a winner and you make no apologies for being a winner.”
Meanwhile Republic of Ireland U21 international winger Jack Grealish has opened contract talks with Villa and Lambert is confident of a successful conclusion.
A new four-year deal is on the table for Grealish, 19, who is out of contract at the end of the season. Lambert, who himself signed a new four-year contract earlier this week, said: “We are talking and hopefully it will fall into place. The objective is that it will be resolved in the very near future.”
Grealish has made a couple of cameos off the bench against Stoke City and Hull City in the Premier League so far this season as well as starting in the Capital One Cup against Orient and Villa are keen to bring a swift conclusion to the talks after he was tipped as a target for Chelsea.
Lambert has high hopes for the teenager and he added: “He is doing some good things and as a young player you give him the freedom to go and make something happen.
“As a younger lad he will not get the criticism aimed at older players.
“Jack will find that when he gets into his mid-twenties and he has got to help the younger players.
“You become open to praise and criticism when you get older but at the minute the fans are really taking to him.”
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