FORMER REPUBLIC of Ireland captain Roy Keane has been installed as the bookmakers’ second favourite to replace Sven Goran Eriksson as manager of Championship side Leicester City.

Former Newcastle midfielder Lee Clarke is odds-on favourite after leading League One side Huddersfield Town on a 41-game unbeaten run, but it is understood that former Sunderland and Ipswich Town boss Keane has been identified by Leicester’s ambitious owners as having the potential to lead the club back into the Premier League.

Martin O’Neill, the early front-runner to return to his former club, is believed to have recommended the Cork man for the position to the Thai-based Asian Football Investments, who now control the club.

Keane, 40, has been out of work since being let go by Ipswich in January, but has enjoyed a strong media profile in recent weeks, including appearing as an analyst on UTV’s Champions League coverage.

The pressure would be on Keane from the start, although Leicester are showing some good form, having won 3-1 away to Burnley on Tuesday night.

Paulo Sousa was sacked after just nine games last season, while Eriksson only lasted 15 games into the present campaign.

Keane led Sunderland to the Championship title in 2007, but experienced less success subsequently at Ipswich.