Robbo’s exit left a hole in midfield. But as Paddy Crerand explains, that commitment, energy and ferocity was quickly replaced…

What can you say about Roy Keane? What a captain and what a player for Manchester United. Not only did he have great technical ability, he also had an unbelievable will to win. His mental attitude to the game was incredible – he was completely fixated on winning matches, and that got through to everyone else and had a positive effect on the team.

I still remember when we signed him, in the summer of 1993. It was a record fee at the time and I know a lot of United supporters were excited by his arrival, but you couldn’t have imagined the impact he was going to have. Not long after he joined I was in Dublin at a Football Hall of Fame event with Sir Alex, and he introduced me to Roy’s family who were in our hotel. They were all huge United fans, particularly his father Maurice, and I got to know them very well after that.

Roy became a fans’ favourite almost immediately, after scoring twice on his home debut against Sheffield United, and even early on in his United career he looked like real captain material. He eventually took the armband after Eric Cantona’s retirement in 1997, and went on to become one of the club’s greatest ever leaders. He sweated blood for the club, never more so than in the Champions League semi-final second leg, away at Juventus, in April 1999.

Roy played so many magnificent games for the club, but that night will always stand out as his best – it’s an iconic moment in United’s history. Juve went 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes, but Roy dragged us back into it. Not only did he score our first goal with a fine header, he went on a one-man mission to get us to the final even though he knew he’d be suspended. It was an unbelievable performance.

As well as being an inspirational leader, Roy was also a brave and courageous captain who would stick up for his team-mates no matter what. His midfield battles with Patrick Vieira were fantastic to watch, and I’ll never forget his confrontation with the Arsenal skipper in the tunnel before a game at Highbury when Roy stuck up for Gary Neville. I think he frightened the life out of Vieira!

I would put Roy alongside Cantona and Bryan Robson as the most influential players during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign: he will definitely go down in the club’s history as one of its greatest ever servants.

Reds striker Danny Welbeck is making the step up to England's Under-21s squad for the forthcoming friendly with Ecuador in Malaga next Tuesday.

The 18-year-old has burst onto the first-team scene at Old Trafford this season after previously impressing in United's Reserves and Academy sides.

Since making his senior Reds bow against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup back in September, the Longsight-born forward has gone on to make five starts and two substitute appearances.

He's scored twice in that time - a spectacular strike against Stoke City on his Premier League debut in November, and another well-taken goal against Southampton in the FA Cup.

He's previously done well for England at schoolboy, U16 and U19 levels, and now England U21s boss Stuart Pearce wants to take a closer look at what Welbeck can do.

"We're having a look at Danny, who has done well in the U19s and broken into the team at Old Trafford, which is no mean feat."

In the 22-man squad, Pearce's entire forward line is of Old Trafford origin. Welbeck is joined by Fraizer Campbell, who's on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, now with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Another Red, Tom Heaton, on loan at Cardiff City, is likely to be first-choice goalkeeper.

The squad are now in preparation for this summer's UEFA European U21 Championships in Sweden, and Danny will hope to play a prominent part when England take on Finland, Spain and Germany in the group stage of the competition.

WAYNE ROONEY is closing in on a return to action after coming through a full training session yesterday.
The Manchester United and England hitman has not played since damaging a hamstring after hitting the early winner against Wigan on January 14.

United boss Alex Ferguson was reluctant to rush Rooney back, to ensure he is fully fit for the run-in.

But the striker has made such progress he went through the same routine as the rest of the first-team stars yesterday.

If there is no reaction, he could even find himself in the squad to face West Ham away on Sunday.

Yet with an England friendly in Spain next Wednesday, the likelier date for his comeback is the FA Cup clash at Derby or Nottingham Forest on February 15.

CRISTIANO RONALDO cannot play at his best unless he is being booed.

The Manchester United star has got so used to abuse from opposition fans that without it he gets paranoid.

Ronaldo, 24 tomorrow, said: It’s normal for me now. If it doesn’t happen, I’m thinking, ‘Why aren’t they booing?’

It’s part of football. Maybe they think if they boo I’ll lose my concentration — but it doesn’t happen because I like it.

Ronaldo first became football’s public enemy for his diving, which he has since eradicated from his game.

Then it was for his part in United team-mate Wayne Rooney’s World Cup sending-off for England in 2006.

Now it is because he is so good he can destroy teams on his own. And he aims to continue doing that.

His boss Alex Ferguson last week questioned whether the World and European Footballer of the Year could match his achievements of last season when he hit 42 goals as United won the Premier and Champions League titles.

Impossible

But Ronaldo, with 14 goals this season, is not giving up on the idea until it is mathematically impossible.


He said: I’ve improved every year and the last season was the best.

But I want more — this season I want to score the same amount of goals, or more. I know it’ll be hard but I think it’s possible.

The Portugal ace has sought advice from experienced players about how he can stay on top.

He said: I’ve spoken to players who have a great history in the game. They’ve told me it’s not what you do in one season, it’s staying at the top level that is the challenge.

If I don’t perform, people will start to criticize me and I don’t want that. I’m ambitious and plan to win many more things.

When I arrived at 18, I was a good player, but not in decision making, like whether I have to pass the ball or dribble.

Winning trophies and being at this club gives you maturity and I’ve learned a lot. When you’re playing around great players you learn.

Ronaldo wants to repeat last season’s Champions League triumph as United aim to become the first club to retain the trophy in its modern format.

Their next step in that mission comes with the two-legged last 16 tie against Inter Milan.

Ronaldo said: The next games against Inter will be massive.

I had always dreamed of winning that trophy. When I touched it, I felt like a baby touching a doll, or something like that. What a feeling.

What you really want is to win again, to feel this emotion, and I believe it can happen.

We have a great team, great players and the base is the same.

Of course, it could have been different had John Terry scored Chelsea’s final penalty after Ronaldo’s miss, the pain of which he can still recall.

In an interview with the club’s Inside United magazine, Ronaldo said: A shootout is a lottery. When you miss you think everyone will kill you. It’s a horrible feeling.

Petr Cech made a good save. It was disappointing as I know I can do better.

When I missed, I thought our chance had gone but the lads all said, ‘No Cristiano, we’re still going to win’.

We deserved the moment because we worked hard together.

I remember crying, thinking about what we had achieved, all the things we had done that season to get there and win that trophy, thinking about my family and team-mates.