Roy Keane on FAI's manager chase:  'Apparently they wanted everybody. They didn’t know what they wanted' 

Lee Carsley was long linked with the Ireland job before Heimir Hallgrímsson was finally appointed after a drawn-out process. 

Roy Keane, ITV

Roy Keane believes Lee Carsley deserves the chance to prove himself as England manager and suspects the availability of the England job played a part in Carsley not becoming Republic of Ireland boss.

Former Ireland international Carsley is set to manage England against Ireland next month, as he steps into Gareth Southgate's position on an interim basis. 

Carsley was long linked with the Ireland job before Heimir Hallgrímsson was finally appointed after a drawn-out process. 

Speaking on ITV's Community Shield coverage, Keane, who played alongside Carsley for Ireland, says his former teammate deserves this chance for his work with England underage sides.

"He obviously lacks experience. He hasn’t managed that long. He’s worked at international level and good luck to him. 

"I played with Lee. He’s a nice lad. He’s got this opportunity and let’s see if he can go take it.

“My experience with him he was a quiet lad. He had a very very good career. He’s gone and done the hard yards with his coaching at underage levels and had lots of different roles.

Lee Carsley during a training session at St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent.  

“The key for lots of managers, like Gareth when he got the England job, is the timing. It’s just opened up for him now and he sees it. Let’s see how he goes.

“In the games coming up, you’d fully expect England to win most of those games. So he’s in prime position to get the job."

Asked about Carsley's links with the FAI and the Ireland job, Keane added: 

“Apparently they wanted everybody. They didn’t know what they wanted. 

"Maybe that’s one of the reasons he turned the Irish job down. Maybe he was told a few months ago, you’ve got a chance."

Keane also wished Hallgrímsson well in the Ireland job.

“Good luck to both of them.”