Roy Keane believes that Manchester United should stick by embattled manager David Moyes but predicts that things will almost certainly get worse before they get better for the club.

Keane, who attended the three-nil loss to Manchester City at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, said: “It’s tough going for United at the moment. It’s not a lack of effort, I’ve seen a few of their games. They’ve lost a bit of confidence. They’re human beings. But it’s not going to get any easier in the next couple of months.

“There’s a bit more pain to come. If they play against Bayern Munich like they have in the last two weeks then they’ll be in massive, massive trouble. At the Liverpool game, I thought United would be okay but they never turned up. Against City, I thought they’d be alright and they never turned up — my God they better turn up next Tuesday night.”

Nevertheless, Keane reckons David Moyes deserves to be given the time required to put things right.

“He’s got vast experience and good staff,” he said. “A couple of senior players, Rio and Giggsy, they’ve got to step up to the plate. One or two of the new players are getting criticism but it’s up to the players who have been there a few years who know what United are about. They also need to get certain players in, certain characters to make sure they battle for every minute of every game.

“I think United will be alright and David Moyes will get plenty of time. The man deserves it. Sometimes a manager has to go but get him to the summer, get a few players in and give him a chance. I don’t think people can comprehend the size of Manchester United.

“Anyone who has got any idea about football will know this was the biggest job — to follow Alex Ferguson. Clever people were saying you want to follow the manager after Alex Ferguson. That’s why David Moyes — give the man time, give him a chance. He’s only been in there two minutes.”

Keane, who was speaking in UCC last night at the launch of a new Cork City patronage scheme, also dismissed Stan Collymore’s call that he and Martin O’Neill – two former Forest men — should replace sacked Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies at the City Ground, insisting his focus is now firmly on his job as Ireland assistant manager.

“Me and Martin have only been in the door two minutes with the senior team and we’re enjoying it,” he said.

“It’s a big, big challenge ahead and there is so much we have to do. Even the Serbia match, it was a learning curve for us in terms of preparation and boundaries with people, even the media and the FAI. Sometimes with this speculation you’d take it as a compliment. Forest are a top club but my intentions are to continue working with Martin and the senior team and to try and qualify. I don’t tend to get distracted by media stuff.”

However, Keane reiterated he would still hope to return to management in his own right in the future.

“The contract (with Ireland) is obviously a couple of years and I’m delighted to work with Martin, Seamus (McDonagh) and the other staff,” he said. “But I never said for one minute that I wasn’t looking to go and do my own thing. I made massive mistakes, particularly at Ipswich, and I did okay at Sunderland but I’m still learning and I think I’m learning under a top, top manager in Martin and I’m enjoying it. But it’s dangerous to look too far ahead.”

On the subject of his autobiographical work in progress with author Roddy Doyle, Keane quipped: “He’s a good guy for a Chelsea fan.”

Keane said he enjoys Doyle’s company, adding: “He’s clever. I didn’t realise how much I had to say. I think he mentioned that over the course of the few months we’d need maybe 80 or 90 thousand words – I think we got that in the first few hours (laughs). There was nothing wrong with the last book (ghosted by Eamon Dunphy) but I was still a player then and I was under the FA so your hands are tied a little bit and I suffered the consequences — a big fine and a ban.”

While Roy Keane insists that winning is what it’s all about, he has warned against expectations of “a quick fix” as the new management continue their work on shaping a side which can qualify for the finals of Euro 2016.

“Sometimes managers, or the Irish team, can get labelled with a certain way of playing,” Keane acknowledged. “I think if we can win matches. I think that’s the most important thing.

“We have got good players. Even going back to when I played, Ireland got criticised for maybe being too direct, didn’t keep the ball well enough. Even when I played under Jack [Charlton] or even Mick [McCarthy], we were pretty direct. The game is changing but it depends on the players you have available.

“We’ve got a lot of good ball players. Reidy [Andy Reid], Wes Hoolahan, we’ve mentioned Stephen Ireland, all very talented boys. Stokesy [Anthony Stokes]. So it depends on what games come around, what players are available, who’s in good form, who’s in their club teams.

“Again, don’t underestimate Martin’s experience. He’s got great experience and I certainly know from watching his teams over the years, his teams have played different styles of play. They can be very aggressive, they can be a good counter-attacking team, which he certainly did at Aston Villa. Pretty physical and strong up at Celtic. Very good team he built at Leicester. So, as I said, it’s not a quick fix. Don’t be thinking that all of a sudden we’re going to be playing a system that you’ve not heard of. Again, we’ll look at the players and we’ll look at what’s available.”

While expressing the hope that new talent can be introduced to the squad, Keane again insisted that this too has to be a work in progress.

“We’re not putting ourselves under pressure to try and discover players or find out something that the previous management didn’t,” he said. “No, no, it’ll be a slow process on that side of it but what we have to look at [is that] a lot of our players are doing well week in, week out in the Premier League. Martin and myself, we have to try and get a bigger squad. Every player that might be available we’ll look at them. We’re not shutting any doors on any players. But it might just take a bit of time.

“We’ve got potentially four games at the end of the season and we might get an opportunity to look at some other players then. But I know Martin is like myself, we still want to win the football matches. I don’t think we want to be throwing caps around. We want the lads to earn the right to play, particularly for the senior team. So it’s a process we’re enjoying. Martin’s a good guy and I feel lucky to be working with him.”

Since he was speaking on a visit to this hometown, it was perhaps inevitable that Keane would be asked if he’d like to see more Cork men in the national team.

“We keep looking,” he grinned. “Again, if they’re good enough, they’ll get involved. I think it’s important Martin and myself look at the League of Ireland players. I think it’s important we go and watch the games. I think people have been far too negative about League of Ireland football. I think it’s very good and I think a lot of the teams are trying to play good football now.

“It’s great that Cork City have had a good start. Momentum is vital in sport, confidence, backing behind the manager. I saw Cork City play last season, some good stuff. But I don’t get bogged down in terms of getting people like [Dave] Meyler involved. If they’re doing well for the clubs, they’ll have a chance. But, would I like to see more Cork fellas in the Irish squad... probably. If I could, I’d get some lads from Mayfield involved!”

There’s time to smile now but Keane knows the pressure will ratchet up come autumn when the opening phase of the Euro qualifiers will see Ireland face Georgia, Germany and Scotland, all away, with Gibraltar the only competitive game in Dublin this year.

“Yeah, it’s going to be tough, but that’s the name of the game,” Keane acknowledged. “It’s tough at any level. The draw could have been kinder to us but, hey, what do you do, cry about it? We just have to get on with it. The way the games panned out, three of the first games are away, it’s going to be difficult. But I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“I think what we will have, like all Irish teams I’ve seen or been involved in, they always have a go. They always have a go, despite the criticism. First impressions of the group if we are going to get beaten, then teams will have to be very strong to beat us.”

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