Chalmers feels Keane could quit

Steve Chalmers believes Roy Keane will quit Celtic this summer if he thinks he is letting people down.

Former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United captain Keane has hinted he has played his last match for the club as he seeks the all-important verdict from the specialist.

The 34-year-old has been plagued by injury in recent seasons and the Lisbon Lion expects Keane will announce his retirement if he feels he cannot do himself justice.

Chalmers said: ““If he is fit he will come back but he won’t return if he is not fit as he should be. He is very single-minded and proud and he won’t want to let people down so that will be on his mind.”

Chalmers believes Celtic can follow Rangers into the latter stages of the Champions League next season after Barcelona handed them the keys to the group stages.

Parkhead legend Henrik Larsson gave his old club a £10m (€14.7m) ticket among Europe’s elite having come off the bench to inspire the Spanish giants to victory over Arsenal.

Lisbon Lion Chalmers now believes the atmosphere at Parkhead will be like a goal start for the Hoops against the continent’s crack outfits.

He also expects the board to back Gordon Strachan with more cash in the transfer market as Celtic bid to match Rangers’ feat of becoming the first Scottish club to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

“I don’t see why they can’t get through,” Chalmers added. “They will certainly be strong opponents for anyone.

“No teams in Europe will fancy coming to Parkhead to face them and it’s become a fortress again in recent years.

“Those European nights are always special and the atmosphere inside the ground is incredible. I know from my experience that the crowd gives you a goal start so it will be a hard place for anyone to come.

“They can also go away and get results so Celtic should not fear anybody. I know they had a dreadful start last season in going out against Artmedia Bratislava in the qualifiers but that risk has been avoided this time and they will learn from that.

“The manager was let down badly last time, having replaced a big hero in Martin O’Neill, and I’m sure that won’t happen again. Rangers showed what can be done in the competition.

“Gordon Strachan has already made three signings – Derek Riordan, Kenny Miller and Gary Caldwell – and obviously the manager thinks they are good and he’s the boss.

“He is not going to please everybody with his signings but I’m sure he has been looking at players he can afford and I’m sure getting into the group stages will give him more money.”