Keane pitch perfect in training

SOCCER: Roy Keane has not yet stepped on to the field for Celtic but yesterday Gordon Strachan praised the positive impact he has made at Parkhead.

The 34-year-old former Republic of Ireland midfielder is expected to replace the injured Stilian Petrov for the third-round Scottish Cup match at Clyde tomorrow and, after only three weeks of training, Strachan is sure he has a player who will greatly enhance the team.

Yesterday the manager highlighted Keane's value to the many young players who have risen to prominence at Celtic.

"People asked at the time why we were signing Roy Keane when we already had Petrov and Neil Lennon," he said. "But you can never have the perfect team, as Graeme Souness will tell you right now. Poor Graeme maybe has the perfect team (at Newcastle) but he can never get it on the pitch. That's why it's great to have this squad, with guys of equal quality. Lennon got a knock in training last week and it could have been him missing out.

"Roy has been good with the kids. He is stern with those around him at training but he explains why he is like that; he doesn't just hand out ear-bashings. He likes those playing around him to be at their best, and to get better, so the kids have absolutely loved him being here."

It was initially suggested that, with Bobo Balde's departure to the African Cup of Nations, Keane might move to centre-back. But with Celtic in discussions to sign the Chinese defender Du Wei on a longer-term deal and the former Brighton defender Adam Virgo also in Strachan's thoughts, it seems certain that Keane will occupy his preferred midfield role.

The manager dismissed fears that his newest signing lacks match fitness, having not played since September 18th, and might suffer from the attention that will undoubtedly mark his debut.

"He has to play some time," Strachan added. "We've tried to get him into as many game situations as possible since he's arrived. He is used to pressure situations and coped with them for 10 years at Man United, so pressure won't bother him."

Strachan also insisted any fresh approach from Preston for the midfielder Stephen Pearson will be rebuffed. Celtic have denied reports they offered Chris Sutton a new contract before the 32-year-old former England striker moved to Birmingham on Thursday. The forwards Craig Beattie and Maciej Zurawski are back in full training but will not feature at Clyde.

Celtic have meanwhile refused to comment on a newspaper report that two players were captured on an amateur video featuring sectarian chants. The grainy footage apparently shows Pearson and John Hartson with three fans on a stage during a boisterous singalong. The Fields of Athenry is being sung, punctuated by shouts of "IRA" and "Sinn Féin".

Pearson's agent Willie McKay said: "Stephen's seen the video and he said he sang The Fields of Athenry but he never shouted 'IRA'. I can assure you that Stephen is not sectarian at all."

Hartson's agent Jonathan Barnett dismissed the report as "complete rubbish".

Guardian Service