With Brian Kerr due to name his squad for next week's game in Poland at a press conference this afternoon, Alex Ferguson yesterday suggested that Roy Keane is slightly short of being fully fit for this evening's Premiership game against Charlton at Old Trafford.
Ferguson didn't rule out starting Keane against the Londoners but hinted that he would prefer to give the Corkman an additional few days on the sidelines ahead of the game against Liverpool. "He has trained and technically he's fit," said the United manager yesterday, "but he might be better with another few days' rest."
Keane has missed his club's last three games because of a thigh strain but had widely been expected to return this evening. The timing of his return, though, has become a particular issue because of his planned return to the Irish squad and his possible inclusion in the travelling party for the game in Bydgoszcz.
Asked about whether he felt the 32-year-old would make the trip to Poland Ferguson made it clear yesterday that he was not going to get into any public speculation on the matter. "There may be a problem," he said rather enigmatically, "but I'm not going to discuss that. It's something for Roy to sort out."
Generally it is expected that Kerr will name Keane as part of his squad although neither party has given any real indication of his intentions. In the event that he is not fit enough to play in Poland he may still travel in order to display his renewed commitment and to meet the players.
Keane's adviser, Michael Kennedy, meanwhile, has said that there is no prospect of the player moving to Parkhead during the summer as he intends to honour the remaining two years of his Old Trafford contract.
"Roy has got two years left at United and he is going to fulfil that," Kennedy said yesterday. "Who knows (what will happen when his contract ends)? That is two years away."
The Irishman has mentioned on a number of occasions that he harbours an ambition to play for the Scottish champions before the end of his career but there was little to suggest that he would make such a switch for some time yet.
Martin O'Neill, whose own future in Scotland is the subject of constant speculation, had already admitted that the arrival of Keane was improbable with the Irish international likely to stay on at Old Trafford to help his current club regain the Premiership crown.
The midfielder is also keen to make another assault on the Champions League with Alex Ferguson's team next season.
"The opportunity is pretty remote," said O'Neill. "I'm not so sure Roy Keane would want to leave Manchester United when next year will be a big one for them in trying to win the English title back from Arsenal."
Meanwhile, Paul Scholes will miss United's clash with Charlton tonight after being handed a three-match ban by the English Football Association.
The midfielder was hit with the suspension at a disciplinary hearing in Manchester yesterday for striking Middlesbrough midfielder Doriva in the Premiership meeting at Old Trafford on February 11th, an incident not seen by referee Paul Durkin.
Scholes's guilt was indicated by TV replays of the incident, although that did not stop Ferguson suggesting the 29-year-old star, who has scored 14 goals this season, was unlikely to receive a favourable hearing.
"You know the FA and Manchester United," he said last Friday. "There is a scenario for every club in the country and another one for us.
"We expect Paul to have a difficult hearing. Put it this way, I don't think he will get the same hearing as other players get."
Scholes has chosen not to appeal and the ban starts with the visit of Charlton followed by Premiership games at home to Liverpool on Saturday and away to Blackburn on May 1st.
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is, however, set to return after a four-match absence caused by a knee injury and will partner Louis Saha up front.
Phil Neville (ankle) and Kleberson (knee) also trained and could be available as United attempt to bounce back from last Saturday's defeat to Portsmouth.
