Martin O’Neill insists he’s still ‘delighted’ to have Roy Keane as his assistant

Martin O'Neill says he continues to be "delighted" to have Roy Keane as his assistant manager and that he has no problem with the Corkman expressing his opinion on matters relating to the team as long as it isn't "absolutely contradictory" to what he has himself said on particular issues.

“I chose to bring him in in the first place,” he said at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference, “and he’s been terrific around the lads, all that I wanted him to be. He’s got a mind of his own and unless what he’s said is absolutely contradictory to what I’m saying then I don’t have a problem.”

Everton reaction

O'Neill said that he had not seen the reports of what Keane had said in his press conference yesterday. He did later suggest though that he would read through the comments after it was put to him that Everton chairman Bill Kenwright had said the former Manchester United star had said some "stupid things," and that manager Roberto Martinez would be "shocked" by his characterisation of the club's behaviour in relation to Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy.

The manager declined to comment on whether he found Keane’s comments on Jack Grealish’s availability and the role of the player’s father in the decision making process unhelpful or on Robbie Keane’s suggestion after Friday’s game that the tactics employed did not suit his style of play.

’It doesn’t bother us’

John O’Shea, meanwhile, said that like the manager the players are pleased to have Keane involved with the set up. “It’s brilliant having him on board,” he said. The supposed distraction of it all, he said, “doesn’t bother us a bit”.

A rather more subdued than usual O’Neill went on to confirm that both Cyrus Christie and David McGoldrick will start tomorrow night’s game against the United States and that more than half the starting line will be changed from Friday night.

Second string

He said that he was pleased to have another natural right back in the squad after having had to play David Meyler in the position when Seamus Coleman was unavailable due to injury last month and he expressed the hope that David McGoldrick will provide him with the option of playing a little differently in attack.

Asked if his priority is a performance or a result against the US, he said: “I’d like both. I’d like to see how a few of the players are going to cope with this type of game but I’d also like to get back to winning.”