Kenwright rubbishes Keane's comments

Ireland and Aston Villa assistant coach Roy Keane made some insulting comments towards Roberto Martinez yesterday about the pressure he feels the Spaniard puts on his players when they leave for international duty.

Roy Keane said on James McCarthy, "I worry that he is under lots of pressure, particularly from Everton’s point of view. Every time an international match comes around, it always seems to be Seamus and James who are under pressure. They’re turning up or they not turning up, or they’re struggling."

"If it carries on next year, it’s going to put a lot of pressure on James. Roberto has never played at senior international level and maybe he doesn’t realize how big the games are for us."

My thoughts on that are the following. It appears that Roy seems to be bored in his current job and can’t help but continue to steal the limelight he so desperately craves from the rest of his team and from the actual managers he works under. It’s typical of Keane to look to deflect the blame of a defeat onto a completely different subject, something the press have once again bought into.

I also find it quite ironic how Keane expressed no concern for the state Aiden McGeady or Darron Gibson turn up in to Ireland’s base. If Roberto was so restrictive over our players and with our current injury concerns in central midfield, he certainly wouldn’t have allowed Darron Gibson to play any part after returning from months on the sideline.

Bill Kenwright, today, told Sky Sports News of his surprise at Keane’s comments. Kenwright said "You know what I’m a big fan of Roy Keane’s, but, he does say some stupid things. Now, that (Keane’s comments) are just totally, totally unfair.

"We absolutely love our players going on international duty and we never ever get in the way of them.

"Roberto would be as shocked as everyone is at Everton, to hear Roy Keane saying that".

Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady and Darron Gibsom will all play a part in Ireland’s international friendly tomorrow.