February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Charlton, who was guest of Pat Kenny on the “Late Late Show” last Friday night, said: “I would love Roy to say, ‘Yes, I will come and play for you in this game because you need me.’ I think a lot of people who haven’t forgiven him for what happened in Japan would forgive him.”
But Charlton said he would not be the one to offer Roy an olive branch.
“I would be a hypocrite, as I have been very critical of Roy in the past,” he said. “But I think somebody should approach Alex Ferguson, who could convince Roy to play.”
Ferguson is Keane’s manager at Manchester United. Keane, one of the game’s best players, left the Irish team in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup. Unhappy with the quality of the training facilities the team had reserved in Saipan, Keane, who had also been feuding with then manager Mick McCarthy, returned to England and did not play in that summer’s World Cup. Later, amid speculation that he might return after McCarthy left the team, Keane, under the advice of Ferguson, announced his retirement from international soccer.
Despite worries about an ankle injury, Keane played for Manchester United in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Arsenal. The Corkman definitely seems to have mellowed. There were some ugly scenes between players from both sides at the end of the game, but Keane was in there trying to keep the peace.