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22 May 2002
McCARTHY - KEANE IS STAYING PUT

The Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy confirmed that Roy Keane would remain with the squad after a report that suggested that he had quit the Irish camp and decided to return home.

The Manchester United and Republic of Ireland skipper shocked his teammates with his withdrawal threat on Tuesday, with personal problems and concerns about his troublesome knee believed to be the reasons behind his upset.

McCarthy was forced to make a call to Colin Healy, Ireland's standby player, only to have to call back and deliver the painful news that there was to be no late call-up for the youngster.

McCarthy said: "Roy trained this morning and is absolutely fine. He has had a change of heart and I am delighted. He should be playing in the World Cup because he is one of the best players in the world.

"Roy plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world week in, week out, and I have no worries about him."

The former Celtic defender said that his squad was getting on with the job of preparing for the finals.

He added: "Team morale is brilliant, there are no worries about that. The lads are the best bunch you will ever meet and they will get on with it.

"Whatever happens they will put the best side out at all times, they are brilliant. They came back from training today and all gathered round Roy - they are all together.

"This is one of those things and it comes with the territory. I'd like to have had a lovely restful week and not had this to deal with, but we'll get on with it."

The alleged incident that was reported to have led to Keane threatening to come home centred on a decision to rest the squad's goalkeepers in training on Tuesday. The Manchester United skipper was believed to have taken exception to this and made his point to Pat Bonner, the Republic's goalkeeping coach.

"There is some suggestion this is all to do with a bust-up at training, but that is way off the mark," said McCarthy.

"There were suggestions he had a scuffle in training, and I wasn't even aware of that. Pat [Bonner] has bigger arguments with his lad over his homework.

"I asked him if it was that, or anything else, but he assured me it was personal.

"I spoke to him after training yesterday and he had concerns over his injuries - his knee. He was going to go home after training on Tuesday.

"He said to me it was personal reasons. I don't know what they were because he didn't give them to me.

"He'd made his mind up and nothing I said was going to change it. We had a number of discussions, but then he spoke to other people back at home and that resolved whatever problems there were.

"I know he is worried about his knee, he has treatment on it all the time. That is an ongoing thing and it will be."

Mick McCarthy

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