Irish Player of the week

Difficult one this, what with one Keano banging in two on his debut for Coventry at Highfield Road on Saturday and the other …

Difficult one this, what with one Keano banging in two on his debut for Coventry at Highfield Road on Saturday and the other scoring the brace that took Manchester United to victory at Highbury yesterday. In cases like this, though, you've gotta give youth its chance so Robbie it is.

The 19-year-old will have won the hearts of the Coventry fans with his performance against Derby and maybe cause Aston Villa boss John Gregory, whose interest in the youngster seemed to have cooled after Alex Ferguson said he would pay no more than a fraction of Wolves's £6 million asking price for the Dubliner, a sleepless night on Saturday.

Thrown straight into the fray by his new manager, Keane looked immediately at home at the higher level and while there are undoubtedly tougher days ahead he has overcome the first hurdle and his goals should take the pressure off even if he now takes a while to settle in fully.

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times