Football: Why are you so Keane to knock Roy?

I just can't believe that at this stage of Irish World Cup preparations, some people are ready to stick the knife into Roy Keane.

I picked up the papers last Wednesday morning and there were plenty of stories moaning that he hadn't turned up at Niall Quinn's testimonial match at Sunderland the previous evening. Big deal!

I happen to know that Roy was receiving treatment for the injury which has threatened his World Cup hopes all season.

He was at Clarefontaine, the French equivalent of Lilleshall, where France's leading players received treatment. It is also the headquarters of the French youth academy.

Roy wanted to reassure himself that his troublesome hamstring wouldn't flare up again during the biggest tournament on the globe. He had obviously taken the advice of team-mates Fabien Barthez, Laurent Blanc and Mickael Silvestre to try it.

And I imagine he did most of it off his own initiative, as Manchester United were not responsible for the trip.

So he's off trying to get himself fixed in the cause of his country and what happens? People start moaning about him. It beggars belief!

People say Roy is snippy with the media. Well, reading stories like that, it's not hard to see why.

Let's get a few things straight. First and foremost, it's my opinion that my country wouldn't be going to the World Cup at all if it wasn't for Roy.

Secondly, Niall Quinn and, more importantly Mick McCarthy, were informed that Roy wouldn't be along and it didn't bother them in the slightest.

So for people to say that his absence 'cast a shadow over the evening' is absolute nonsense.

With less than two weeks to go to our opening game against Cameroon on June 1, you would think that everybody in Ireland (and that includes the media) would be getting behind their skipper and giving him all the support he needs. This is not a time for negativity. We should just be glad that he's along in the travelling party for Japan at all!

I think most people will agree that Roy didn't have one of his best games on Thursday night against the Nigerians.

Let's hope it was just an off night and not a sign that his injury problems are about to flare again.

This is the type of thing we should be worried about. Not whether he turns up to an exhibition match.

Roy Keane is one of the best things that ever happened to Irish football. Let's give him the respect he deserves and get off his back once and for all.

I had a little lump in my throat watching the TV pictures of the Irish squad heading off for Japan on Friday morning.

It's really a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lads and, speaking from experience, it will probably be better than they've even imagined.

The next few weeks are going to be really important in terms of acclimatising to the heat there. But also in terms of bonding.

The lads already have most of the work done in that regard - the Irish team spirit is legendary - but they'll become even closer over the next few weeks. There'll be plenty of messing around, playing cards and general craic. People say footballers' lives are boring and there is a lot of hanging around.

But you also make really good friends during those times: Guys you know you can always rely on, way after you've stopped playing.

It's that kind of camaraderie that has pulled the Irish through on many occasions in the past.

And we'll be counting on it again in the far east. Because, make no mistake, I reckon this will be the biggest test ever for my national side. And I'll be going too, so that I can report back for the Sunday Mirror.

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