Keane: This is my biggest challenge

Roy Keane is to adopt a selfish approach to make sure he keeps his place in the Manchester United side next season.

Injuries and suspensions excepted, the 31-year-old Irishman has been a permanent fixture in the Red Devils’ line-up for over a decade.

However, the harshly self-critical United skipper believes the performances he turned in during the second half of last season after he returned from hip surgery were well below the standards expected.

And Keane feels Alex Ferguson noticed it too, which is why the Old Trafford boss has already swooped for Eric Djemba Djemba and is expected to confirm the arrival of Brazilian World Cup winner Klebersen before the August 31 Champions League transfer deadline.

“When I came back from the hip operation my performances were nowhere near acceptable,” admitted the Cork-born player.

“The manager recognised that as well and has brought in other players for my position.

“I see that as a big challenge, maybe bigger than ever before. And while I will help them to settle in as much as I can, I also have to be selfish about the situation.

“As far as I am concerned, the manager can bring in 50 new players. I feel as though if I am fit I would still be in the starting line-up.”

Having shrugged off the minor thigh strain which forced him to miss Sunday’s 3-1 win over Club America in Los Angeles, Keane should be fit for tomorrow’s sell-out encounter with Champions League runners-up Juventus at the Giants Stadium.

The arena already holds one fond memory for Keane – it was the ground where Ireland famously defeated Italy in the 1994 World Cup thanks to Ray Houghton’s volleyed winner.

As always though, Keane refuses to countenance any sentiment over his return, insisting the game is just one more step on the road to facing Bolton on August 16, when United begin the defence of their Premiership trophy.

And for the first time, the Irishman is looking ahead to a new season knowing there is no chance of it being disturbed by the international demands that were placed upon him for over a decade.

Twelve months have gone by since his infamous fall-out with Mick McCarthy, since when Keane toyed with the idea of wearing the distinctive green jersey again under new coach Brian Kerr, only to change his mind at the last moment on medical advice.

“It was a tough decision but physically I am feeling the benefit of it now,” he said.

“The surgeon advised me I needed to get as much rest as I could between games, so I had to really think about the situation.

“I felt I owed United because of the way I have been treated by the club since the day I first joined.

“Their support was something which was lacking from the FAI and while it wasn’t a nice way to end my international career, life goes on.

“I hope the boys qualify for the European Championships and I wish them all the best for the future. But I have some unfinished business with United to attend to.”

For Keane that means picking up an authentic European Cup winners’ medal, something he does not regard the 1999 version as given he was suspended for the final even though he was largely responsible for pulling United through their semi-final against the Italian opponents they meet tomorrow.

With only bragging rights at stake come kick-off time, major attention will focus on the presence of Juan Sebastian Veron, who continues to be linked with a move to Chelsea, despite repeated claims to the contrary from the Old Trafford camp.

Ferguson has already twice indicated he expects the Argentine to still be with United at the start of the new season, while United officials insist there has been no formal offer for the midfielder.

With super-agent Pini Zahavi working behind the scenes, the latter observation means little, although, having been snubbed by Ronaldinho and Harry Kewell and seen Damien Duff join Chelsea and David Beckham depart for Real Madrid, the loss of Veron would leave United seriously short of play-making options.

Ferguson has said United wanted to ‘draw breath’ on the transfer front after the protracted Ronaldinho saga finally ended with the Brazilian moving to Barcelona.

However, if Veron opts for life in London, United will have to move fast to bring in a replacement to appease their increasingly anxious fans.