ROY KEANE has set his sights on a New Year's Day return to action following his shin injury in Manchester United's Champions' League victory over Rapid Vienna on Wednesday.
Keane needed 19 stitches in a `7'-shaped gash to his shin after being stretchered off towards the end of United's 2-1 victory in Austria. It is the third time Keane has been on the injured list this season and now seems certain to miss his club's next five Premiership fixtures - he hopes to be back to face Aston Villa at Old Trafford on January 1st.
Said United chairman Martin Edwards: "At first we feared that Roy had broken his leg. It certainly looked like that from the grandstand.
"But thankfully it is only a gash and even though it will keep him out for a few games it could have been a lot worse The doctor cleaned it up right away and after it was stitched up Roy was able to join up the rest of the lads as they came off the field at the final whistle."
United's other injury victims from Vienna are both hoping to be fit for Sunday's trip to West Ham. Nicky Butt will have treatment after being kicked on the knee five minutes after Keane was injured and Gary Neville pulled out just before the end to avoid a hamstring strain.
Meanwhile, former Brighton boss Liam Brady has launched a scathing attack on the club's owners, urging potential candidates for the Goldstone Ground manager's job to think again. The former Republic of Ireland midfield maestro was the predecessor to Jimmy Case, sacked by the Nationwide Football League's bottom club yesterday.
Ironically, Case was the first signing made by Brady, now heading the youth development programme at his former club Arsenal.
Brady said he felt sorry for Case, forced to work alongside chairman Bill Archer and chief executive David Bellotti. "Jimmy has been in a diabolical position to be working for these people. They have made an absolute mockery of the club and I sincerely hope they find very few genuine football people willing to work with them," said Brady.
"When their plans for selling the Goldstone became public knowledge in my third season in charge, I found it extremely difficult to get results but Jimmy had even more problems than I did. I was actually sorry when Jimmy took the job on because I knew the people he was going to be working for."
Brighton supporters' groups have thrown their weight behind Brady's call for potential candidates for the manager's job to reconsider.
John Baine, leader of the Brighton Independent Supporters Association but, speaking for seven supporters groups, said: "We would appeal to any manager interested in the job not to apply. The next manager of the club should be appointed by Dick Knight's consortium, backed by the fans. We have absolutely no confidence in anyone appointed by Bill Archer and David Bellotti and will not support them."
Meanwhile, the caretaker-manager, George Petchey, is urging the club to consider former Southampton coach Dennis Rolfe and ex-Watford boss Glenn Roeder as candidates to replace Case. Both played under former Millwall and Crystal Palace boss Petchey, who says he believes both are on a" short list.
"I was asked for my suggestions "and the names I recommended are Dennis Rolfe and Glenn Roeder and, hopefully, it will be one of them," said Petchey (65), who does not want the job on a permanent basis.
