Fergie: Keane can carry on for five more years

The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants his influential captain Roy Keane to stay at Old Trafford for another five years. The Irishman has recently returned to action after a troubled year which saw him walk out of Ireland's World Cup campaign, suffer a record fine and five-match ban after comments in his autobiography and undergo a hip operation which kept him on the sidelines for four months.

During his absence, there had been suggestions that Keane's off-field problems outweighed his contribution on the field and also that his captaincy could be under threat. But Ferguson has remained steadfast in his support of the 31-year-old.

"We would like to see another five years from Roy and he is capable of doing that," said Ferguson. "He needs a bit of luck with injuries but he is a fit lad. When you get to your thirties, you do tailor your game a bit differently, and I think we will see Roy change."

Keane has spoken of a desire to end his playing days in Scotland with Celtic, although having missed out on the 1999 Champions' League triumph through suspension, the chance to seal his place in United folklore would be a major counter-attraction.

Ferguson believes Keane can be persuaded to stay and although his return coincided with the end of United's winning run, the manager feels his captain's contribution will be vital. "Roy has this incredible dynamo inside him. He can play anywhere he wants because he has got something others have not."

It has often been said that Keane provides an on-field mirror image of Ferguson, who admits there is some truth in the observation. "I try to get a team out on the pitch to mirror me, and that is what Roy is trying to do. He wants everybody to be like Roy Keane but not everybody can be like that."