Keane to consider compatriots

Roy Keane will return from New Zealand with transfer decisions to make on the future of a number of his Irish players, some on their way out and some on their way in.

Keane is currently in the southern hemisphere in the role of observer in the All Blacks camp as he completes his Uefa Pro Licence studies.

He has already dispensed with the services of left-back Ian Harte, right-back Stephen Wright, striker Andy Cole and centre-half Stanislav Varga, as well as four youngsters.

One player teetering on the brink at the club is Republic of Ireland international Liam Miller, who was transfer listed during last season for persistently being late.

Despite forcing his way back into the side towards the end of the season, Miller has courted Keane's ire in his time at the club and did little to impress the manager when starting against Serbia and Colombia recently.

However, when quizzed on the issue last month the former Manchester United and Celtic midfielder was determined to keep his head down, work hard and hope for the best. He may yet survive given the amount expected to leave and his quality in comparison to the other names on the list.

Keane has reportedly agreed to send former Cork City striker Roy O'Donovan to Dundee United on loan.

The 22-year-old is wanted Craig Levein, who tried to secure a deal last season, only to be thwarted by the 'three club' rule with O'Donovan already having played with Cork and Sunderland last year.

Former Ireland internationals David Connolly and Graham Kavanagh are unlikely to get a stay of execution but if reports are to be believed the Irish contingent may actually be strengthened this summer.

Reading's Stephen Hunt remains a target for Keane. Fellow left-winger Damien Duff has also been touted, as has Kevin Doyle, Kevin Foley, Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland and Aiden McGeady.

Hunt, Doyle and Foley will be tempted by Premiership football but Dunne has loftier ambitions than Wearside, while there's no telling what his Manchester City team-mate Ireland is thinking.

McGeady could do worse on his first foray into the Premiership. At Sunderland he will remain close to Scotland and is likely to start regularly if he shows he can work in defence as well as attack.