Roy Keane's zeal may be rare but he has at least one kindred spirit among his fellow players, writes Daniel Taylor

Roy Keane did not name names when he questioned the efforts of his Manchester United team-mates this week and spoke of "talent without work-rate", but the finger of suspicion could never be pointed at Alan Smith.

Unlike several of his colleagues, Rio Ferdinand among them, Smith's dedication could never be doubted and going into tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle, the combative forward echoed Keane's criticisms of the team's performances.

"I agree with everything that Roy has come out with," Smith said yesterday. "I'd imagine every player here would say the same, too. Sometimes you need a reminder about just which club you are playing for and the standards that are expected at Manchester United.

"Not giving 100 per cent is a crime, as Roy said. You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and know you have given your all. You have to make sure everything is right here because if Manchester United lose one game, it's a crisis.

"Our pride was hurt losing against Norwich last weekend. Roy didn't play but he will have watched the game intensely and if he felt that a few of us didn't give 100 per cent he is right to say it. We've got some unbelievable individual talent here and the fact is we've let ourselves down too often this season. There have been too many substandard performances."

Keane is shrewd enough to have timed his annual rant with some calculation, coming before a match they simply dare not lose, and Smith believes there will be a positive reaction.

"I just hope it had an impact, a kick up the backside, but we won't find out until Sunday," he said. "We owe ourselves a performance now. We knew at the start of the season we had a squad capable of winning everything, but it hasn't happened for us. This club needs silverware and this is our last chance."

Fears being expressed about the spirit of togetherness at Old Trafford is relatively uncharted territory. For years team spirit has been regarded as one of their more endearing qualities, but Keane's outburst, followed by rumours of players becoming disillusioned with Alex Ferguson's assistant Carlos Quieroz, has made it an uneasy week.

Ferguson has seldom gone in for team-bonding exercises, believing them to be the stuff of lower-league clubs, but it speaks volumes that on Thursday the players went white-water rafting in Bala, north Wales.

"It was good to go away together," said Smith. "If you did fall in, it was one those days when you would find out who your mates were - who would pull you out - or who would let you sink.

"There's been a lot of talk about feuds in the camp and it was nice for us all to go away and enjoy ourselves for a day. There's no problem at this club, and I can say that on behalf of every player."

Smith's trans-Pennine switch may still be regarded as a treacherous act of disloyalty in parts of Leeds - west Yorkshire police have requested he stay away from Lucas Radebe's testimonial next month - but even if his first season at Old Trafford has been littered with disappointments, few could dispute that he has made a favourable impression.

Anyone who wants to prolong the argument need only refer to United's defeat by Milan at San Siro last month when, with time running out, 9,000 travelling Mancunians began to chant his name, urging Ferguson to bring him on from the bench.

"When you come to a team like Manchester United you know your place in the team isn't guaranteed. But it was nice to hear the fans singing that. People questioned whether I would win over the fans but hopefully my performances have done that."

Many of United's followers would agree, judging by the way Smith began the season. The £7-million recruit was comfortably their most impressive player until an ankle injury ruled him out for three months and since then, with Ruud van Nistelrooy hopelessly out of form, Smith can regard himself as unfortunate that he has been largely restricted to substitute appearances.

"I feel I should have a chance of starting every game," he says, "but every player at this club should feel that way. We've got some tremendous players. It's a question now of getting some silverware."

Guardian Service