ROY KEANE is ready to pile on the misery for his former Manchester United mentor, Bryan Rob son, when Manchester United attempt to put their own European disappointment behind them against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon.
"I am sure that Robbo will be getting his players keyed up because they have gone through a bad spell themselves and need a win just as much as we do," said Keane, who missed 10 games with a thigh injury, and was suspended for last week's 1-0 win over Arsenal after being sent off in the defeat at Southampton.
"He was a legend at United, but he will be the first to say that Middlesbrough are his number one priority at the moment. But we are looking forward to going back there with memories of winning the League at Middlesbrough last season.
"We have also had a dodgy patch in the League, but we had a great win against Arsenal last week and I think that has helped
Keane insists that United will not let the midweek loss to Juventus affect them, even though their European Cup future is now out of their hands, with the final group games to be played on December 4th.
The Old Trafford club have lost, five of their last seven games, with League defeats at the hands of Newcastle, Southampton and Chelsea, as well as European losses to Fenerbahce and now Juventus.
"People have thought that we were concentrating on Europe, but I can safely say that we have not forgotten about the League," says Keane. "We know we have a tough game against Middlesbrough and we will concentrate on our next European match when that comes round."
Middlesbrough manger Robson watched his old club in action against Juventus and hopes that their European exertions will take their toll as his side aim to end their own depressing run of seven League games without victory.
"Manchester United have had a hard week, while we've had a free week to prepare for the game and my players have looked nice and sharp in training. They know that good results against Manchester United tomorrow and Newcastle United in the Coca Cola Cup next week could turn the season round.
"I think we are better equipped to beat Manchester United than when they won the Premiership last May. I have been encouraged by recent performances despite disappointing results, but we must stop giving away easy goals. That has been our main problem."
Meanwhile, Ruud Gullit's Chelsea, will find themselves in Alan Shearer's firing line when the £15 million man returns after his groin operation for today's match of the day at Stamford Bridge.
Gullit may not be completely convinced by Shearer but Gianluca Vialli yesterday admitted that he certainly is. While his manager concedes that the England skipper is a class act, Marco Van Basten was held up as the standard Shearer still has to reach.
"Of course he is a great player, but you can't compare him to Marco," said Gullit. "The difference is that Van Basten played at the highest level, for Milan and Holland. He showed what he was capable of in European Cup finals, in European Championships and World Cups, and until Shearer has performed at that level you can't say how good he is.
"Euro 96 was the first time Shearer had the chance to perform at that level, and he really needs Newcastle to win the championship so he can show what he can do in the European Cup.
"But Marco did do it at every level, in every standard. Until Ala has done that you just can't compare them."
But Vialli, whose compatriot Gianfranco Zola will make his home debut today, has no doubt that Shearer is the finished article.
"He is a great player, and I love his attitude," said the Italian. "Shearer played very well in Euro 96 and I think everybody in Europe now knows about him. If any striker has scored as many as Shearer has in his career you know you are talking about a great player."
That slight note of dissension comes at the end of two days which saw first John Spencer then Gavin and Mark Stein - the latter two on loan to QPR and Stoke respectively - leave Chelsea reported spat with skipper Dennis Wise, was laughed off by Gullit.