ROY KEANE, benign to a fault, was acting out a strange role when he presented himself to the assembled media in Cardiff yesterday.

Keane, so often on the defensive himself he doesn't have either the time or the inclination to defend others, was speaking out on behalf of his affronted Manchester United colleague, Ryan Giggs.

Giggs, who has been marked absent more often from international duty than even Keane, was the subject of a familiar bulletin at the weekend when Manchester United informed the Welsh manager, Bobby Gould, that their flamboyant winger would not be fit to play in Cardiff this evening.

Remarkably, Giggs has never been available for any of the friendly games for which he was chosen by Wales, but on this occasion, even Gould's renowned patience may be close to snapping. Indicating that World Cup places will be on offer here, he hinted that Giggs may not be invited back to join the squad for next month's meeting with Belgium.

It's the kind of veiled threat that Keane has suffered in the past and, predictably, it got short shrift from him. "Everybody wants to play for their country and I haven't the slightest doubt that he would be here if the club shad cleared him.

"After all, he did choose Wales over England and I have no doubt that he would be welcomed back with open arms if he is ready for the World Cup game.

"I've often found myself in the same position as Giggsy because of injuries, but at the end of the day, it's the club which decides if you are fit enough to travel and play for your country. It's their decision and that's fair enough for they do pay the wages.

Keane admitted publicly for the first time that the criticism to which he was subjected for his high rate of absenteeism in the national team last year hurt. "Of course, it hurt. It would be a lie to say otherwise" he said "People did not seem to understand that I was injured but that, thankfully, is all now in the past.

"I want to plan for Ireland and even if I had broken my leg, I'd still have travelled to Cardiff. Unfortunately, Denis Irwin was forced to pull out with an injury last week. But I just wonder if the reaction would have been different had I, and not Denis, found myself in that situation.

"I've regretted the times I have had to miss the opportunity of playing international football, but I repeat that I'll always be available to represent Ireland when fit enough to do so."