Keane not 'Gunner' be fit for crucial clash

The chances of Manchester United having Roy Keane in their line-up for next month’s showdown against Arsenal look slim.

With the Old Trafford clash against the reigning champions still four weeks away, Keane looks unlikely to figure in Alex Ferguson’s plans unless he makes remarkable progress as he recovers from hip surgery.

All thoughts of Keane playing in the Champions’ League game against Bayer Leverkusen were dismissed by Ferguson who says next Wednesday’s game at Old Trafford is too soon for his inspirational midfielder to be considered.

“He is coming along but his test will come when we put him on the football field. Maybe in two or three weeks‘ time we will know better when he goes into football training and does twists and turns, and starts kicking a ball and we see what reaction we get from that,” he said.

“I don’t think he will be playing by then, not in two or three weeks‘ time.

“It’s still to early to put a date on the calendar because we don’t have the knowledge we would like about this type of injury particularly with a player of Roy’s age.”

Keane had surgery on his troublesome hip early in September and Ferguson said: “Freddie Ljungberg, who had a similar operation and is much younger, was out for three months.”

The United boss is also open-minded on whether Keane will return to the Republic of Ireland side following the departure of manager Mick McCarthy.

The way may seem clear for a comeback but Ferguson told the Sunday Pink: “I don’t know whether he will go back and play for them, I have not even spoken to him about it and it is not really a subject I would want to discuss with him to be honest.

“I think for Roy’s sake, the least he says about it the better because it is going to be another agenda for everyone in Ireland.

“They will be agog with stories at about who is taking over and Keane coming back. At the moment he is not even back for us and that is the first step.”

Keane was sent home from the World Cup during the summer after a clash with McCarthy, vowing never to play for his country again while the former Manchester City defender was in charge.