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When Sir Alex Ferguson gave Manchester United captain Roy Keane his backing to resume his international career, he was expecting him to only play in competitive matches for the Republic of Ireland, so he was as surprised as anyone to see him named in the squad for next month's friendly in Poland.
However, the United boss insisted that he did not have a problem with it: "I was not aware that he would be travelling to Poland," he said. "I think Roy is in control of the situation and he knows exactly what is needed. I am sure between himself and Brian Kerr they will make sure it is right. He needs games anyway after the time he has missed recently."
Irish boss Brian Kerr insisted that he was not behind the decision: "It was Roy who took the initiative and I have not spoken to Sir Alex about the matter. Roy made the approach and it was up to him to sort out his problems with Manchester United," he said.
Kerr also admitted that he expects Keane to make a huge difference for Ireland, even if he is not captain: "Roy will be a good leader for the many young players we have in the squad. He has earned the respect of most people in the football world and he will have the respect of our dressing room as well.
"I have spoken to some of the squad about his return and I do not envisage any problems. We all know we have to move on and focus on the World Cup qualifying campaign," he said.
Keane came off the bench for United last night in their 2-0 win over Charlton, but was overshadowed by the stand-in captain Gary Neville, who scored his second goal in a week: "I never thought I would be relying on Gary to get us a goal," smiled Ferguson. "That's two in one season now - I can hardly believe it."
He admitted after the game that United are still unsure about the nature of Louis Saha's niggling injury problems, after the French striker scored the first but was substituted after 65 minutes: "We are trying to get to the root of it," the United boss revealed. "That is why we keep playing him. We are trying to find out whether it will hold up to games."
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley admitted that his side had caused United few problems last night, even though he believed that they could have had a penalty when Paul Konchesky went down under a challenge from Gary Neville early in the second half. Referee Steve Dunn decided The Addicks player had dived and promptly booked him, but Curbishley saw it differently.
"I looked at it on TV and he could definitely have given it," he said. "It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if it had occurred for United because the noise levels would have gone up significantly.
"But it is so difficult for the referees. They have a split-second to make their decision and then it is gone."
Nevertheless, Curbishley insisted: "I don't believe in the video referee. Those decisions are part of the game. Without them, you don't have any talking points."
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